Whether it’s watching the stars before dawn or following them through downtown Tauranga, this year’s Matariki celebrations invite people to experience the Māori New Year in many different ways.

Among events rooted in tradition, a fireside hautapu ceremony will light up the early hours on Matakana Island.

On Thursday, people will gather in the darkness to honour loved ones and welcome the Māori New Year.

The free ceremony begins at 5.30am at Te Uretureture Pā.

Attendees will call the names of those who have died to the star Hiwa-i-te-rangi through the rising smoke and place a time capsule into the ground, to be opened in 10 years.

Organiser and Te Awanui Hauora general manager Demita Tukaki said the morning was about bringing people together in remembrance and hope.

“It’s about acknowledging those who have passed on in the year and ensuring that they’re remembered.

“There’ll be karanga, whaikōrero, waiata from the tamariki and performances from the kura.”

She said the ceremony invited reflection through a simple ritual of release and intention-setting.

“It’s like wishing upon a star.

“We hope people take away more knowledge and education around what Matariki is truly about.”

Downtown Tauranga is inviting people to step into the Matariki constellation itself through an interactive art trail across the city centre from July 3 to 10.

The free Matariki Star Trail links nine locations around the CBD, where QR codes unlock digital artworks and stories about each whetū (star), guiding visitors between local businesses.

Downtown Tauranga board co-chairman Stephen Hahn said the organisation had teamed up with Tuatara Collective and STEM Wana Trust to make Matariki easier to engage with, while encouraging people to explore the city.

“I hope they can learn a little bit about Māori culture and the traditions around Matariki at the same time as learning where new and exciting businesses are downtown.”

Rather than moving quickly from stop to stop, Hahn said the experience was designed to encourage people to slow down and discover parts of the city they might normally pass by.

“[The] downtown board really like to look at ways to integrate activities to get people travelling around the downtown footprint and exploring the new shops that we have.”

He said the focus reflected Matariki’s growing place in Aotearoa’s calendar.

“It’s important that we recognise culturally specific days that are integral to the culture of New Zealand.”

Matariki highlights in Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty

Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.