Stars align for Matariki celebrations in the winter school holidays

The stars are aligning for a week of family-friendly activities this Matariki, with the Māori New Year coinciding with the winter school holidays.

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. The cluster disappears for about 28 days during mid-winter and when it reappears on the horizon – this year from 13 to 16 July - the Māori New Year begins.

Popular events, including guided lantern-lit Matariki Night Walks beside the Styx River, are fully booked, but families can join a Nightlife Lantern Walk through Riccarton Bush and discover the nocturnal wildlife in the area instead.

The self-guided trail runs every evening of KidsFest between 5.30pm and 7.30pm and a printable guide will be available on KidsFest in Parks.

The Council’s Parks team is also hosting Matariki planting events, including two at the Rongoā Garden on Marshlands Rd on July 12.

The dawn planting will be followed by a hui to plan for the year to come. A second family-friendly planting event will be held at 10am at the same location.

Alternatively, join park rangers for a Matariki planting event at the new West Broken Run Reserve in Wigram on July 17.

The KidsFest Matariki Discovery Trail offers free, self-guided trails for children to try at Halswell Quarry Park, Ferrymead Park, The Botanic Gardens and Radcliffe Rd Reserve throughout the festival. The aim of the trail is to find each of the nine stars of Matariki.

Uncertainty around public gatherings mean the libraries weren’t able to plan their usual programme of Matariki events. Te Iwa o Matariki will go ahead digitally this year with weekly stories, songs and craft activities on the libraries’ Facebook page.

At the Christchurch Arts Centre, children can make a hanging star containing the Matariki constellation on July 18.