Te Whanganui-
A-Orotū
MATARIKI HUNGA NUI
TE WHANGANUI A OROTU - NAPIER
MANY PEOPLE GATHER FOR MATARIKI
21st to 25th June
Mānawa mai a te putanga o Matariki.
Mānawa mai a te ariki o te rangi.
Mānawa mai a te mātahi o te tau
Hail the rise of Matariki
Hail the lord of the sky
Hail the New Year
Matariki is the Māori tradition that marks the rising of the star cluster Matariki Pleiades. Matariki signals the start of the Māori new year and is a time for commemorating the passing of loved ones, making plans for the coming year, feasting and celebrating.
MĀRAMA
LUMINATE LIGHT TRAIL
Tuesday 21st June to Saturday 25th June
Time: 6.00pm to 9.00pm. Where: Waitangi Park, Highway 51, Awatoto, Napier. Free entry. Everyone welcome. Note: 6pm to 7.30pm is peak viewing time so we recommend people consider visiting at other times to avoid parking delays in our 100 vehicle secondary carpark.
Matariki is a time to gather, care for our natural places and give thanks for what we have.
Visitors enter Waitangi Park through Te Whanau Marama Waharoa – Family of Light gateway that leads to the Atea a Rangi, a traditional celestial star compass navigators use for wayfinding across the Pacific Ocean.
Learn about the Matariki star cluster and follow a trail of luminous stones, a traditional practise of Ngāti Pahauwera to guide them at night following the reflective glow of the opunga stone in moonlight. The trail leads to light displays that guide you along an estuary that filters nutrients for plants, spawning marine life and wading birds.
Caring for the environment is one of the values of Matariki and a promise we wish for the future. Waitangi Park is an example of that promise in it’s transformation from an illegal trash dump to a regional treasure.
The sensory experience is delivered by wireless headphones to ambient music and narration. Headphones are limited to 100 and offered to visitors on a first come basis every 30 minutes. Atea a Rangi Star compass presentation starts at 6.15pm and runs every 15 minutes.
Dress warm in layered clothing with comfortable runners. Gumboots, torch and a coat would be handy.
Note: 6pm to 7.30pm is peak viewing time so we recommend people consider visiting at other times to avoid parking delays in our 100 vehicle secondary carpark.