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Featured Matariki stories
Rising star: Musician Paige Tapara
Paige Tapara was inspired to become a pop star after watching an American tween movie as a child. Now, she wants to inspire queer Māori artists to own their space in Aotearoa's music industry.
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Matariki a chance to 'decolonise the dancefloor'
14 Jul 2023As the stars of Matariki rise, decolonising the dance floor is a key focus for three Tāmaki Makaurau DJs.
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Mānawatia a Matariki: What's on around the motu
14 Jul 2023Want to get out and celebrate Matariki? Here's a list of events taking place around the motu this weekend.
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'It's more than just a day off': Matariki star cluster universal for all people - professor
13 Jul 2023Different cultures from around the world have used the cluster of stars to understand the change of season, when to plant and when to harvest. Audio
Matariki headlines with summaries.
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How the Indian community celebrates Matariki
12 Jul 2023Community groups across the country are uniting to celebrate the Māori New Year.
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Rising star: Farmer Chloe Butcher-Herries
9 Jul 2023Chloe Butcher-Herries knew she wanted to be a farmer when she was eight. Now she's a farm manager.
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My Matariki: 'As a Māori, it's making me really want to learn more'
9 Jul 2023Four Māori New Zealanders explain what Matariki means to them.
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Rising stars: Te Aorere Pewhairangi and Kimiora Kaire-Melbourne
5 Jul 2023Media producers Kimiora Kaire-Melbourne and Te Aorere Pewhairangi are proof that total immersion learning in te reo Māori can be a springboard to crafting great careers.
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Napier-Hastings shoreline to light up for Matariki celebrations
4 Jul 2023Plans are underway to set the Napier-Hastings shoreline alight for Matariki, using excess driftwood from Cyclone Gabrielle. Audio
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How to hold your own hautapu ceremony this Matariki
2 Jul 2023As the Māori new year approaches, it is a good time to think about what you and your whānau will be doing to celebrate, and to remember those who have passed away.
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'I don't want to be that uncle that everyone's waiting to die so they can do stuff' - Rangi Mātāmua
1 Jul 2023It's not the books, the awards, the accolades or the successful push to have Matariki made a public holiday that gives Rangi Mātāmua the most satisfaction. It's hearing the kids talk about it.
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Matariki: 'This is when we came of age'
24 Jun 2022Today's Matariki celebrations signal the maturing of Aotearoa, Sir Pou Temara has said at a hautapu ceremony this morning.
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Matariki 'unites us under the stars of Aotearoa': Ardern
24 Jun 2022It is also is a step forward towards understanding what makes us unique as a country, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.
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Matariki: What is hautapu?
24 Jun 2022Julian Willcox explains the process and meaning behind the hautapu ceremony, including why the timing of the hautapu is crucial.
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Pou unveiled to mark significance of Takapūneke near Akaroa
24 Jun 2022A pou has been unveiled at dawn on the Banks Peninsula this morning to mark a new phase for a historically significant site.
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How my whānau is reclaiming the traditions and significance of Matariki
23 Jun 2022First Person - The country will be celebrating Matariki for the first time as a public holiday tomorrow, and Ashleigh McCaull writes that the time is a period to reflect, celebrate and to look ahead.
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Businesses that opt for Matariki sales drive taking a risk
22 Jun 2022Comment -Just as Anzac Day remains off limits for commercialisation, businesses should not try to bastardise Matariki to make money, Mike Lee writes.
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Matariki: Our guide to a new Aotearoa
21 Jun 2022First person - Each star has something to teach us; one might speak to you a bit louder this year, and there is a reason for that, Māni Dunlop writes.
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People gathering outdoors urged to rug up for Matariki stargazing
24 Jun 2022People planning to head outdoors this long weekend are urged to pack and dress for the conditions.
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Dramatic waharoa or gateway feature of Taranaki lights festival
23 Jun 2022Taranaki artists will be a feature of the first-ever TSB Festival of the Lights Winter Pop-up event which opens in New Plymouth tonight.
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Museum's Matariki projection project to remember those who have passed away
23 Jun 2022Tūhura Otago Museum will project photos of loved ones who have died in the last year onto its building as part of a Matariki dawn ceremony on Friday.
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Wellington vogue ball to focus on queer people of colour this Matariki
23 Jun 2022It's time to strut down the runway and hold a pose for the judges - Wellington Ballroom are holding the first locally led vogue ball, titled The Fictional Ball, this weekend.
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1000 people gather at Takaparawhau to mark Matariki
22 Jun 2022More than 1000 people gathered at Takaparawhau on Tuesday morning to observe Matariki and welcome the New Year.
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Stardome puts on a show for Matariki
22 Jun 2022The story of Matariki is being shared every evening in Auckland this week, by coloured spotlights shining into the central Auckland sky. Audio
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Matariki's key elements remembrance, celebrating and planning, Māori astronomer says
20 Jun 2022Friday will be Aotearoa's first ever Matariki public holiday to mark the start of the Māori New Year, but the star cluster is known across the globe and has an ancient recorded history. Audio
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Aotearoa invited to join RNZ for Matariki
16 Jun 2022RNZ has announced programming across its radio and digital services, including live streaming of the official Mānawatia a Matariki celebrations.
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Te Papa opens interactive Matariki exhibition ahead of first holiday
10 Jun 2022Te Papa will open its interactive Matariki exhibition tomorrow ahead of the Māori New Year being celebrated as a public holiday for the first time later this month.
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'This is Maōri Earth, this is not Middle Earth' - Celebrating Matariki's meaning
4 Jun 2022The new Matariki holiday sets an indigenous alternative to measuring time for all New Zealanders, says author Witi Ihimaera, who has written a new children's book about the Māori New Year. Audio
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