This Friday, 10 July 2026, Aotearoa New Zealand has a public holiday to celebrate Mānawatia a Matariki – a time of reflection, celebration and preparation.
As Māori follow the Māori lunar calendar, not the Gregorian calendar, the dates for Matariki change every year. In 2026, we celebrate Matariki from 9 to 11 July, with the public holiday on 10 July.
Māori believe that appearance of Matariki in the morning sky in mid‐winter and is a fundamental pillar marking the Māori New Year | Te Mātahi o te Tau. A time in the season of remembrance (Matariki Hunga Nui), celebration (Matariki Ahunga Nui), and forward‐planning (Matariki Manako Nui) , which is deeply tethered to the local environment and the maramataka.
This is also the time that our tīpuna, tūpuna would look to Matariki for help with harvesting. When Matariki disappeared in April‐May, it was time to preserve crops for the winter season. When it re‐appeared in June‐July, tīpuna, tūpuna 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.
The theme for this year’s celebration is Matariki herenga waka. Each year, a different region is the focus of the celebrations and for 2026 is Tāmaki:
‘Matariki herenga waka’ is an adaptation of the proverb ‘Tāmaki herenga waka’ which means ‘Tāmaki the gathering place of many canoes’. Tāmaki is the name for the greater Auckland area, and today it is home to many people from across the globe. In 2026 the National Matariki celebration will take place in Tāmaki and will be hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
The phrase Matariki herenga waka honours the connection to the Tāmaki region while at the same time highlighting the relationship between Tāmaki, Matariki and canoes. Auckland is often referred to as the city of sails and Matariki is part of a large star constellation called ‘Te Waka o Rangi’ the canoe of Rangi. However, the deeper meaning of this phrase is, Tāmaki is a home to everyone and Matariki has a connection to all people.This year’s theme of Matariki herenga waka is all about inclusion and encouraging all people to celebrate Matariki together.
The offices of the Board | te Poari will be closed on Friday 10 July and will reopen at 9am on Monday 13 July.
