Maanawatia a Matariki 2026 | Hamilton City Council

Nau mai, haere mai Kirikiriroa. Maanawatia a Matariki is back for 2026! The arrival of Matariki is a sign for people to gather and celebrate new life, remember those who’ve passed and to plan for the future.

Wrap up warm and rally your whaanau and friends to celebrate the rising of the star cluster Matariki that marks our Maaori New Year - Te Maatahi o te Tau.

Hea (Where): Innes Common, Hamilton Lake

Ina (When): Friday 10 July, 3pm - 7pm

Kei te aha (What’s happening): Family-friendly evening filled with live music, entertainment, food, markets and more!

Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more and keep updated.

Join here

What can I expect?

Ngaa Maakete (markets)
Ngaa mahi a ngaa tamariki (children’s activities)
Taraka kai (food trucks)
Ngaa whakaaturanga ora (live performances)

Check out the amazing line up of performances:

3.05 pm - Kyla Greening
3.40pm - Talents of the Pacific Academy (TOPA)
4.20pm - Zentarge
5.00pm - The Harmonic Resonators
6.10pm - Te Maurea Whiritoi
6.40pm - CB Civil Laser Show (with DJ Selectiv)

Free bus rides

Save on the petrol and parking stress and catch the bus to and from the event for free. BUSIT is offering free bus rides* to the event from midday on Friday 10 July. Simply tell the driver you are heading to Maanawatia a Matariki at Innes Common and jump on board for free!

Below are some bus stops walking distance from Innes Common:

Alison Street (near Lake Cresent)
Queens Avenue (near Killarney Road)
Pembroke Street (near the entrance to the Hamilton Lake)
Transport Centre - take any Hamilton service that goes here and walk to the lake.

Check out the BUSIT website to view the timetable.

BUSIT website

*Hamilton bus services only including the Orbiter, Comet and Meteor services.

The significance of Matariki

*Maaori believe that the appearance of Matariki in the morning sky in the mid-winter marks the Maaori New Year, or Te Maatahi o te Tau.

Our tuupuna (ancestors) would look to Matariki for help with their harvesting. When Matariki disappeared in April/May, it was time to preserve crops for the winter season. When it re-appeared in June/July, tuupuna would read the stars to predict the upcoming season – clear and bright stars promised a warm and abundant winter while hazy stars warned of a bleak winter.

Because Maaori follow the Maaori lunar calendar, not the European calendar, the dates for Matariki change every year.

Learn more about Matariki and the cluster of stars.

*Source - Te Wānanga o Aotearoa