Thousands of people gathered before dawn at Takaparawhau/Bastion Point in Tāmaki Makaurau to welcome the rising of Matariki, marking the beginning of the Māori New Year with one of the country’s largest hautapu ceremonies. The event brought together whānau, iwi, community leaders and visitors from across Aotearoa in a celebration grounded in remembrance, reflection, gratitude and hope.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei hosted this year’s nationally broadcast hautapu ceremony, with Takaparawhau serving as the focal point for Matariki celebrations across the country. As the stars emerged before sunrise, participants honoured those who had passed over the past year, acknowledged the gifts of the natural world and looked ahead to the aspirations they hold for the year to come.
The hautapu ceremony remains one of the most significant expressions of mātauranga Māori. Kai gathered from the forests, rivers, oceans and cultivated lands was prepared and offered through karakia, with the rising steam symbolically carrying messages of remembrance and thanksgiving to the stars. The practice reflects generations of Māori astronomical knowledge and the enduring relationship between people, the environment and the celestial world.
This year’s celebration also highlighted Tāmaki Makaurau as a place where many peoples and cultures come together. The theme, Matariki Herenga Waka – For Everyone, recognised Auckland’s identity as a place of connection and belonging while reinforcing that Matariki is both deeply rooted in te ao Māori and embraced across modern Aotearoa.
Across the wider region, more than 100 Matariki events have been taking place throughout July, including kapa haka performances, exhibitions, storytelling, community gatherings, workshops and illuminated public art installations. The festival has transformed the city into a celebration of te ao Māori, inviting people of all backgrounds to engage with the stories, values and traditions that define the Māori New Year.
Matariki continues to grow in significance as a national occasion, encouraging New Zealanders to pause, remember those who have passed, celebrate the present and plan for the future. Since becoming a public holiday in 2022, participation has expanded rapidly, while the kaupapa remains firmly anchored in tikanga Māori and the wisdom of the maramataka.
For many gathered beneath the winter sky, the rising of Matariki was more than a celebration. It was a reminder of whakapapa, resilience and the enduring connections between whānau, whenua, the environment and the stars that continue to guide future generations.
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