As Aotearoa prepares to celebrate Matariki 2026 in Tāmaki Makaurau, Professor Rangi Mātāmua says the Māori New Year continues to grow as a powerful moment of unity, reflection and national identity.
Professor Mātāmua, one of the leading voices behind the establishment of Matariki as a public holiday, says this year’s theme, Matariki Herenga Waka – For Everyone, reflects the idea that Matariki is a time to bring people together across cultures, communities and generations.
The national celebration will centre on Tāmaki Makaurau, with the hautapu ceremony taking place at Takaparawhau, a site of deep historical, cultural and political significance for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and for Aotearoa.
The theme Matariki Herenga Waka speaks to the idea of many waka coming together.
In practice, it means Matariki 2026 is being framed as an inclusive celebration where everyone can take part, while still respecting the mātauranga Māori, tikanga and whakapapa that sit at the heart of the kaupapa.
Professor Mātāmua says Matariki is not simply a public holiday or a festival. It is a time to remember loved ones who have passed, celebrate the present, share kai, acknowledge te taiao and look ahead with hope.
That balance of remembrance, gratitude and aspiration has helped Matariki resonate with people across Aotearoa.
One of the most significant moments of Matariki 2026 will be the national hautapu ceremony at Takaparawhau.
The hautapu is a pre-dawn ceremony that acknowledges the rising of the Matariki star cluster and offers food to the stars through karakia and ritual.
The ceremony connects people to the environment, the seasons, the heavens and those who have passed on.
At Takaparawhau, people can expect a deeply symbolic gathering that honours mātauranga Māori and the relationship between whenua, moana, sky and community.
The location adds further weight to the ceremony, carrying layers of memory, struggle, resilience and mana whenua leadership.
Professor Mātāmua has previously said Matariki 2026 could be the biggest celebration yet.
That growing interest is being driven by a wider public desire to understand the meaning of the Māori New Year and to take part in something uniquely grounded in Aotearoa.
Schools, marae, councils, iwi, artists, businesses and community groups are increasingly embracing Matariki through events, storytelling, hautapu, kai, wānanga and public celebrations.
For many whānau, it has become a time to pause in the middle of winter, reconnect with each other and think about the year ahead.
Matariki has moved rapidly from a tradition many New Zealanders knew little about to one of the most important dates on the national calendar.
Professor Mātāmua says part of its power lies in the fact that it offers Aotearoa something distinct from overseas traditions.
It is grounded in this land, this sky and the knowledge systems of tangata whenua.
Its rise as a public holiday has also created a space where Māori knowledge is not only recognised but celebrated nationally.
For many, Matariki has become a rare moment where the country pauses together to reflect on loss, celebrate life and set intentions for the future.
As Tāmaki Makaurau prepares to host Matariki 2026, the challenge is ensuring the celebration remains inclusive while keeping tikanga and mātauranga Māori at the centre.
Professor Mātāmua’s message is that Matariki belongs to Aotearoa because it comes from Aotearoa.
It is a celebration for everyone, but it is guided by the knowledge, values and traditions of Māori.
As thousands prepare to gather beneath the winter stars, Matariki Herenga Waka stands as an invitation to remember, reconnect and move forward together.
