Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is preparing to welcome thousands of people to Takaparawhau for one of the most significant events on the Matariki calendar, a pre-dawn hautapu ceremony that brings together remembrance, reflection, gratitude and hope for the year ahead.
Led by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Chair Marama Royal and supported by respected cultural leaders including Monique Maihi-Pihema, the ceremony forms a central part of the wider Matariki Herenga Waka celebrations, a national event that recognises Auckland as a gathering place for people from many cultures, communities and traditions. The theme, Matariki Herenga Waka – For Everyone, reflects Tāmaki Makaurau’s role as a place of arrival, connection and belonging.
The hautapu ceremony will take place at Takaparawhau/Bastion Point on Friday, 10 July 2026, from 5.45am to 7.30am and is free for the public to attend. Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is hosting both its annual hautapu and the nationally broadcast Matariki hautapu ā-motu, placing Takaparawhau at the heart of Matariki celebrations across Aotearoa.
The hautapu ceremony is one of the most sacred and meaningful rituals associated with Matariki.
The ceremony acknowledges the rising of the Matariki star cluster and marks the beginning of the Māori New Year. It is a time to remember loved ones who have passed away, celebrate the present, express gratitude for the abundance provided by the natural world and set aspirations for the future.
At the centre of the ritual is the preparation and offering of food gathered from different domains of the environment. Before sunrise, kai is cooked and dedicated through karakia. As the steam rises towards the stars, it symbolically carries messages of remembrance, thanksgiving and hope. The ceremony connects the living with those who have passed, while reaffirming the relationship between people, the environment and the celestial world.
The hautapu ritual reflects centuries of mātauranga Māori and astronomical knowledge.
Matariki is more than a cluster of stars. It serves as a calendar system that guided Māori communities in understanding seasonal changes, food gathering, planting cycles and environmental conditions.
The ceremony at Takaparawhau draws on these traditional understandings, acknowledging the interconnected relationship between the stars, the land, the sea and the people. It reinforces values of kaitiakitanga, remembrance, collective wellbeing and respect for the natural world.
For Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the event also provides an opportunity to reconnect urban communities with tikanga and practices handed down through generations. Leaders have emphasised that Matariki is a time to strengthen relationships with te taiao and remember the abundance that once characterised Tāmaki Makaurau.
The involvement of cultural leaders such as Monique Maihi-Pihema helps ensure the ceremony remains grounded in tikanga Māori while remaining accessible to a diverse audience.
As Matariki continues to grow as a national celebration, cultural leadership plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of traditional practices and ensuring that the deeper meanings behind the ceremony are understood.
Their guidance helps create a space where both Māori and non-Māori can participate respectfully, learn about the significance of Matariki and strengthen their connection to the kaupapa.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and be prepared for winter weather conditions, as the ceremony takes place before dawn.
Warm clothing, rain protection and comfortable footwear are recommended. Participants should approach the event with respect, recognising that the hautapu is both a public gathering and a sacred cultural ceremony.
Listening carefully to guidance from organisers, observing tikanga and participating with an open mind are important ways to honour the occasion.
Many attendees choose to spend time reflecting on loved ones who have passed, achievements from the past year and aspirations for the future before attending the ceremony.
The event provides a unique opportunity to experience one of the most important traditions of the Māori New Year in a setting of immense historical and cultural significance.
The theme Matariki Herenga Waka reflects the idea that Matariki belongs to everyone who calls Aotearoa home.
Takaparawhau, overlooking the Waitematā Harbour, has long been a place of gathering and connection. As thousands prepare to assemble beneath the winter stars, the ceremony will once again unite people from across the motu in a shared moment of remembrance, reflection and renewal.
For Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the event represents both an expression of manaakitanga and a continuation of a longstanding tradition of welcoming communities onto their whenua to celebrate the Māori New Year together.
Event Details
What: Matariki Herenga Waka Hautapu Ceremony
Where: Takaparawhau / Bastion Point, Ōrākei, Auckland
When: Friday, 10 July 2026
Time: 5.45am – 7.30am
Cost: Free and open to the public
