Matariki

Funding for projects supporting the delivery of Matariki were considered for the first time.

Tourism New Zealand and Māori instrumentalist Jerome Kavanagh have collaborated on a composition reflecting on the meaning of Matariki.

New Zealand’s first Matariki celebration is “just the beginning” of marking the significance and meaning of the annual holiday for New Zealanders.

The new public holiday is an opportunity for Māori operators to tell their stories to the world.

There are natural reasons for wanting to take advantage but businesses should tread carefully, writes the University of Auckland’s Mike Lee.

Te Papa Tongarewa will host a pre-dawn hautapu and nationwide broadcast on Friday to mark the Matariki public holiday on Friday.

Auckland’s Sky Tower will be lit up in the colours of Matariki this week.

Mackenzie Tourism has unveiled the website and programme for its Matariki festival taking place on 24 – 25 June.

The Matariki Arrowtown Lights programme is bringing a Māori film festival to its celebrations from 24-26 June.

Ōpōtiki has lined up 19 events for locals and visitors to honour and celebrate Matariki.

A water and light show on the Otago Harbour waterfront will herald the inaugural Matariki holiday in Dunedin.

Sixty applicants have been granted just over $5m funding to Māori-led events and resources that raise awareness of te kāhui o Matariki.

The Matariki public holiday could bring in between $110m-$160m in economic benefit to the domestic tourism industry.

The new Matariki Arrowtown Lights cultural event will kick off from 24-26 June.

Aotearoa New Zealand will officially commemorate Matariki with a public holiday for the first time.

The festivals will be drawcards for visitors to regions that have been hit hard by the lack of international tourists.

The government is providing $16.5m in funding to support local communities build up tourism facilities, with a special focus on Matariki commemorations.

Legislation to bring in the Matariki public holiday next year has reached its first reading in parliament.

Waitomo is celebrating Matariki with eight days of events from 3-10 July, alongside hosted cave tours and underground boat rides.

The government has unveiled the proposed dates of the new Matiriki holiday, which starts next year on Friday 24 June 2022.

More than 60 events planned across region between 11 June and 31 July.

A year away from Matariki being recognised as a public holiday, a Bookabach survey has recorded a 57% uptick in bookings to celebrate the occasion.

The new Tīrama Mai event will feature lighting installations, projections and illuminated artworks within the central city and the seaside suburb from Friday 25 June until Saturday 10 July.

A Matariki public holiday could cost almost $450m, according to figures obtained by ACT leader David Seymour.

It will give operators a uniquely NZ holiday experience to market to the world, says the Government.

PM Jacinda Ardern says if she is re-elected the mid-winter holiday will start in 2022.

A six-week winter festival celebrating the Māori new year is to take place in Hamilton this year after the city council approved $40,000 of event sponsorship funding.

The success of Wellington’s inaugural month-long celebration demonstrates the potential of Matariki to stimulate winter visitation and activity.

Wellington City Council will make Māori New Year, Matariki, a major civic festival in 2018 and will move its fireworks display from November to help celebrate it.