News

Matariki celebrations coming up

6 June 2025

Kick of the Matariki season with waiata at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre. Featuring waiata from Loopy Tunes’ latest album, Mā: Matariki for Tamariki, this 40-minute concert is designed specifically for younger tamariki.

Tickets cost $8 - $12 and the concert will be on from 11am this Saturday. This event is part of The Arts Centre’s Matatiki 2025 programme happening between 7 and 22 June. View the full line-up of events.


The Matariki Glow Show is a giant-scale glow-in-the-dark show for children, families and educators celebrating Matariki in a unique and magical way.

Larger-than-life characters, including a five-metre taniwha, are touring nationwide in 2025. Grab your $11 ticket for the Matariki Glow Show on at the Isaac Theatre Royal on this Sunday.


On 19 June, Phillipstown Community Hub are partnering with Purapura Whetu to deliver Matariki celebrations at the Hub (poster further below). This is a large community event with shared hangi for the community and music / activities for the whole whānau, strategically timed to cater for whānau with school-aged children.


On 21 June, Richmond Community Garden, Avebury House, and Avon-Ōtākaro Network are hosting Matariki in the Zone (poster below) highlighting the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor. This year more local groups than ever will deliver an amazing family-friendly afternoon of cultural activities, followed by a hangi cooked by the awesome team from Tuahiwi Marae.

Local community groups and artists have created each of the nine Matariki star installations reflecting the story behind each star. The light display will be on all week leading up to the main event on Saturday 21 June and taken down on Tuesday 24 June 2025. Kai will be available all afternoon followed by the uplifting of the hangi at around 4pm.

A poster for a concertAI-generated content may be incorrect.

A poster for a eventAI-generated content may be incorrect.