Libraries, Things to do  |  4 Jun 2025

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Explore the traditions and importance of Matariki and celebrate with Christchurch City Libraries this year.

Christchurch City Libraries Kaitakawaenga, Māori Services, Maatakiwi Wakefield says the Māori New Year has always been celebrated with the rise of the star cluster Matariki.

“It marks the beginning of the Aotearoa/Pacific New Year according to the lunar calendar. The stars rise from 19 June until 22 June.

“Puaka rises about 3 weeks before Matariki to signal the end of the old year and to tell us to prepare to welcome the new year.”

The Christchurch City Libraries network is offering a range of events and activities across Ōtautahi to involve the community in the celebration, including an array of resources to learn the significance of Matariki.

Celebrate the Māori New Year through Matariki-themed stories, whānau storytimes and After School Activity Zones at your local library across the network. Join for some Friday night fun as this month’s Bedtime Stories at Fendalton Library on Friday June 6 will be Matariki-themed.

Bring your gardening gloves to New Brighton on Saturday June 14 to support our local dunes with a Matariki Dune Planting. Meet in the library for a kōrero with Ranger Jason before heading out to plant.

Lose yourself in our hokinga mahara moments (reminiscence moments) as we sing through the different reanga (generations) of waiata at Linwood Library’s Ngā Waiata Rongonui with a Matariki twist on Wednesday June 11.

Bring your whānau to Whānau Fun and Wellbeing Day at Tūranga on Saturday June 21, and come a long to Rehua Marae the following weekend for more storytelling, crafts and Matariki activities.

View the full event programme for Mānawatia a Matariki me Puaka – Celebrating Matariki and Puaka on the Christchurch City Libraries website. 

Pick up a pack of Bilingual Story Cards from your local library for $19 and improve your te reo literacy over the Matariki period.