Matariki: The what, why and where to know for this Friday
Matariki is quickly approaching, so what are the rules of the relatively new public holiday and why do we celebrate it?
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The Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022 came into effect in April 2022, establishing the day as a public holiday, the first of its kind to recognise Te Ao Māori.
Similar to Easter, the date of the Matariki public holiday changes from year to year, however, it will always be in June or July. The dates for the next 30 years are already set out in legislation. It will always fall on a Friday.
This year it is this Friday, June 14, next year it is on June 28.
Why do we celebrate Matariki?
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Matariki occurs when the star cluster is made visible mid-winter and heralds the beginning of Te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year.
“Matariki” is an abbreviation for “Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea”, or “the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea” and each of the stars holds a unique purpose.
It is said Rehua (Antares) took Matariki as a wife, and the stars represent their eight children, each with a defined role in ao Māori.
The constellation is momentous in many different cultures and religions, it is mentioned in the Koran, the Talmud, and the Bible. It is known as the Seven Sisters in Greece, Krittika in India, Subaru in Japan and Freyja’s Hens in Scandinavia.
Māori iwi have been celebrating Matariki for many, many years, and traditionally it was a time for feasting on abundant food as it fell at the of the harvest.
Matariki is a time for remembering those lost since the last rising, gathering to give thanks and looking forward to the new year.
People celebrate Matariki in different ways, usually, a meal with whanau and friends is common, while others engage in acts of service to connect with others.
Astronomer Dr Rangiānehu Mātāmua, the man widely credited with getting Matariki recognised as a public holiday in New Zealand, spoke to Newstalk ZB and said Matariki “belongs to all of us”.
Asked whether Matariki was “only a Māori thing”, 2023 New Zealander of the Year Mātāmua was emphatic in his response.
“No, no, no, no, no,” he said. “It is a New Zealand Aotearoa thing. Matariki is the Pleiades, and everywhere across the world, it’s the earliest and most well-recorded group of stars in the night sky.
“There’s not a single person in this country or across the world who does not descend from people who used those stars to determine when to plant, when to harvest, the new year, and a whole lot of associated activities.”
What’s going on near me for Matariki?
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There are several festivities around the country taking place this month which make it easy to celebrate the special event. These feature everything from street parties, and astrophotography tours, to light shows and live performances and star gazing.
Starting at the top of the country in the Bay of Islands, you can dine on a four-course meal and sample craft beer and partake in a dawn cruise as the star cluster rises.
Matariki Pēwhairangi Bay of Islands is in its third year and runs until July 22. It includes a beer and wine festival, a party and the historic Duke of Marlborough Hotel plays host to a modern Māori dining experience.
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is playing host to hundreds of events and activities across the city.
From Wednesday, July 19 to midnight, the Harbour Bridge will put on a light show every half-hour while Truma, a collection of light and sound installations along Queen St, shines neon lights on the history of the neighbourhood.
Also, a stunning sound and vision display was launched last week at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. It features nine illuminated buoys representing the Matariki star cluster, is the brainchild of creative director Tuhirangi Blair and was installed by artist Angus Muir.
Elliott St, meanwhile, will pay homage to its past as a “eat street” by hanging vibrant pātaka kai (food storehouse) insignia above the hip bars, eateries, and shops.
Umu Kohukohu Whetū is one of the three pou events, and it involves lighting an umu, or hangi, on Bastion Point before dawn on Friday, July 14, to the accompaniment of waiata, karanga, and karakia (incantations or prayers).
The nine stars in the Matariki constellation are thought to be represented by the many dishes cooked in the umu, and it is believed that the rising smoke feeds the stars.
On Thursday, July 13, from 5 to 9pm, Henderson’s Catherine St will host a free street celebration with performances by Katachafire, Tiki Taane, and House of Shem. Additionally, there will be cultural performances, kiddie rides, and lots of food stalls.
Kāpiti Coast’s three-week festival, Matariki Ramaroa, is already under way. The Matariki Ramaroa beacon fires will be lit on Friday at Raumati and Ōtaki beaches, allowing for warm stargazing, while the night market at Ōtaki College will take place on Thursday.
In Christchurch, illuminated artworks litter Victoria Square until July 15, so be sure to pop by for a look. Additionally, there will be live readings of Matariki stories and Māori legends as well as light shows on Friday and Saturday nights.
Arrowtown is putting on a spectacular show as the Matariki Arrowtown Lights is back for its second year.
With a koha donation, you can see Buckingham St and the surrounding laneways of historic Arrowtown/Kā Muriwai be transformed into a stunning light show.
Are shops open on Matariki?
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Businesses are not ordered to close for any period during Matariki and there are no other trading restrictions. The sale of alcohol is permitted on Matariki.
Regular public holiday laws apply to anyone working, where they must be paid time and a half. In some circumstances, workers will also be given a paid day off at a later time, known as a day in lieu.
It is important to remember that due to the rise in cost for staff on this day, many businesses will create a surcharge to offset the additional costs.
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www.nzherald.co.nz...
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Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.
More than 120,000 disabled and older New Zealanders registered in the Total Mobility scheme will pay more for discounted taxi trips from next year as the Government announces a cut to trip subsidies.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said subsidies would drop from 75% to 65% from July 1, 2026, blaming unsustainable rising costs.
Regional fare caps will also be lowered by around 10%.
Wide-ranging Ministry of Transport proposals for the scheme were released for consultation today. Suggested options included "strengthened" eligibility; periodic reassessments; caps on monthly trips; and the potential inclusion of ridesharing services.
"The Government is announcing decisions to stabilise the Total Mobility scheme so that the disability community is supported in a financially sustainable way, by all funding partners," Bishop said of the confirmed subsidy changes.
Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston said the new subsidy level would still be higher than what it was four years ago, when it was raised under the previous government.
"We appreciate these decisions will mean fares will increase for Total Mobility users.
"But they will still receive a higher subsidy level than prior to 2022. The changes also provide certainty that those who need the service will have continued access to it."
Demand for the scheme has soared since the subsidy rose from 50% in 2022. Registered users have jumped from 108,000 to 120,000, while trips have risen from 1.8 million in 2018 to three million.
Bishop said the 2022 increase had not accounted for higher demand over time.
"Increased demand now means the scheme is close to exceeding its Crown funding and is placing significant pressure on the contributions from local councils and NZTA," he said.
Costs are forecast to exceed funding by $236 million between 2025 and 2030 under current settings, according to the Government.
The Total Mobility scheme provided subsidised taxi fares for people who could not use public transport independently due to disability or age. The scheme was funded jointly by central government, NZTA's National Land Transport Fund and local councils.
The Government would also provide $10 million to NZTA to ease funding pressures on public transport authorities until the changes took effect.
Reacting to the subsidy changes, Disabled Persons Assembly chief executive Mojo Mathers told 1News that Total Mobility was an "essential service for us".
"This cut to Total Mobility on top of a cost-of-living crisis will only aggravate hardship in an already struggling population," she said in a statement.
"Total Mobility is an essential service for us. Not everyone can get on a bus or drive a car.
"Disabled people will face impossible choices when it comes to travel, when we know that over half don’t have enough to meet their everyday needs."
Labour has criticised the subsidy changes, saying the Government was "making life harder and more expensive for disabled New Zealanders".
Today's announcement came after a delayed year-long Transport Ministry review of the Total Mobility scheme, which included an earlier round of public consultation.
Further changes on the way, proposals in consultation
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Alongside the subsidy cut, the Ministry of Transport has opened consultation on proposals including trip caps, stricter eligibility assessments, and expanding service providers beyond taxis to include ride-hail apps and on-demand public transport.
"Beyond ensuring the scheme’s financial viability, the Government is also taking the opportunity to consider changes to strengthen a system so that it works better for disabled people,” Upston said.
"The Ministry of Transport will be releasing a discussion document to consult on proposals to strengthen Total Mobility to ensure fairer, consistent and more sustainable access to services for people with the greatest need."
The wide-ranging proposals were not yet Government policy and were open for feedback until March 22, 2026. The 10% subsidy cut was not part of the consultation.
The proposals include trip caps, with two options. The first would give all users a flat monthly cap of 30 to 40 trips at 65% subsidy, with either no further subsidised trips or a reduced 50% subsidy once reached. The second would allocate 10 base trips, plus extras based on need – for example, for employment, health, or education.
The ministry proposed tighter eligibility requirements, including medical evidence from health practitioners, occupational therapists or psychologists when applying.
Currently, assessment standards varied, with no documentary evidence required.
Periodic reassessments would also be introduced under another proposal, requiring users to be re-evaluated after a set period to ensure they remained eligible.
The proposals also aimed to expand service providers beyond traditional taxis to include ride-hail apps, on-demand public transport services, and volunteer community transport providers. The ministry said this could increase availability and give users more options.
It was unclear whether ride-hailing apps would include popular ride-sharing apps such as Uber.
To improve wheelchair accessibility, the ministry also proposed more incentives for service providers, including higher funding for installing ramps and hoists in vehicles, and raising the $10 per wheelchair trip payment that has remained unchanged since 2005.
The ministry was also exploring a national public transport concession for people with disabilities – separate from Total Mobility and implemented through the National Ticketing Solution from 2027.
Labour critical of subsidy changes
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Labour disability issues spokesperson Priyanca Radhakrishnan said the Government was "making life harder and more expensive for disabled New Zealanders by slashing discounted transport fares during a cost-of-living crisis".
"Under Christopher Luxon, disabled Kiwis will now pay more just to get to work, attend health appointments, or see loved ones,” she said in a statement.
"Disability communities feel betrayed. First came the overnight cut to flexible funding; then restrictions on residential care with no warning.
"Then Whaikaha was gutted and disability support shifted to the Social Development Ministry. Now, the transport subsidy many rely on to live independently has been cut.
"For many disabled Kiwis, affordable transport isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a lifeline. It means independence, dignity, and the ability to participate in everyday life and that’s why Labour increased the subsidy in government. This latest change is taking us backwards."
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