Matariki is a time of renewal and celebration - a time for communities to come together.
Celebrate the magic of Matariki across Tauranga Moana and the Western Bay of Plenty, with the Matariki Te Tauranga o ngā Waka event series, taking place from 16 June to 16 July 2026.
There are different regional variations, traditions, whetu (stars) and tikanga around celebrating Te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year. Matariki is celebrated across Aotearoa New Zealand with a public holiday on Friday, 10 July 2026.
This year, our region embraces the Ururangi (star) as its theme, and you will find a range of events that celebrate and acknowledge Ururangi and its representation of wind in our environment and our lives.
The theme aligns with the national focus:Matariki Herenga Waka - For Everyone, highlighting the connections that unite us.
Matariki Te Tauranga o ngā Waka encompasses events from Waiororo, near Athenree in the north, to Ōtamarākau, near Maketu, in the south. Throughout Matariki, our region will come alive with events including live performances, exhibitions, workshops, family events, and more.
The Matariki events booklet is available from Tauranga City Libraries or a downloadable version can be found below (coming soon).
Matariki is an opportunity to reflect, celebrate our history and make plans for our future. In doing so, we acknowledge our traditions, language and culture, which together give us a sense of who we are.
Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori.
View all events on the Matariki website