Umu kohukohu whetū | Dawn celebrations

Join the spiritual traditional dawn ceremony hosted by Ngati Whatua Orakei at Bastion Point marae to mark the official beginning of Matariki Festival, from 5am - 7am. For Māori, Matariki is signalled by the appearance of the Matariki (Pleiades) stars in the middle of winter.

It is a time to celebrate and remember, to join together with family and community and honour the past, present, and future through karanga, karakia, waiata, and haka.

The Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei iwi will perform the umu kohukohu whetū ritual, including creating a fire and offering kai (food) to the Matariki star cluster.2023 will be the second year that Matariki is celebrated as a national public holiday in New Zealand, and the festival includes many events of light, colour, music, craft, storytelling and more across the city from July 11 -22.