Matariki 2026 at Te Puia

Join us for a wonderful day of reflection, remembrance, and renewal as we celebrate Matariki – the Māori New Year! 🌟

Hautapu Ceremony 🌅

Time: 5:00am - 7:00am
Experience the Matariki Hautapu Ceremony, led by Te Rāngai Kawa – Te Tokotoru a Manawakotokoto. This beautiful dawn ceremony honors ancestral traditions, reflecting on the past, embracing the present, and looking toward the future. Attendance is free, but tickets are required! Get your Hautapu Ceremony tickets here.

Whānau Day 🕘

Time: 9am - 3pm
In Māori history, after a formal Hautapu ceremony, families would come together to feast and celebrate. Join us for our Whānau Day at Rotowhio Marae!

• Tickets: $5 + booking fee per adult (free for tamariki 16 and under) - Secure your Whānau Day tickets here.

Whānau Day Highlights:

• Market Stalls: Explore local art, crafts, kākahu, and delicious baking. Don't miss the chance for a tā moko session with a local artist!
• Pā Activities: Join in the fun with Tītī tōrea (stick games), poi, and haka lessons.
• Live Cultural Performances 🎶
• Tamariki Fun Zone: Enjoy a bouncy castle and face painting (kiri tuhi / moko).
• NZMACI Demonstrations: Watch talented artists weave, wood carve, and create stone and bone artworks.
• Train Rides around the valley to see the stunning Pōhutu Geyser.
• Street Food Market: Savor delicious kai and inu, including a traditional Hāngī, cooked in the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley.

Come celebrate Matariki with us at Te Puia! 🥳🌿