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New venues, offerings and artworks will keep things fresh at this year’s Tīrama Mai event.

Marking Te Tau Hou – the Māori new year – the free Council-produced festival provides a meaningful opportunity to learn and engage in Puanga Matariki and Māori creation stories. 

With the support of several partner organisations, including Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū and Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Art Centre, the event is set to be located both outdoors and indoors this year.

“The Gallery foyer will be our storytelling and performance hub, with music and DJ sets also featured. It’s a fantastic space that allows us to entertain more people, and in warmth and comfort,” says Lucy Blackmore, Manager of Events and Arts.

The exhibition spaces will be open for exploring until late, the Philip Carter Family Auditorium will host short films, talks, and more at set times, and outside on the Gallery forecourt, several installations will be alight. 

With the official Matariki holiday on Friday 20 June this year, the festival is being held from Wednesday 18 June to Sunday 22 June. Wednesday’s programming, including an artist panel talk and a performance, will run from 4.30pm to 9.30pm, while Thursday to Sunday runs from 2.30pm to 9.30pm.

“This year’s event features more exciting projection mapping works, supported by Streamliner – these are beautiful, large-scale, light-projected moving images which are cast onto a wall,” Ms Blackmore says.

“We’ll have a new animation by Sam Emerson (Ngāi Tahu) and Josh Montgomery (aka Drows, Ngāi Tūāhuriri/Ngāi Tahu) projected onto the Harley Chambers building, on the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Cambridge Terrace, lighting up at dusk.

“Meanwhile, throughout the event inside the grand Great Hall at The Art Centre, a new vibrant work by Xoë Hall (Ngāi Tahu) will be projected, enhanced by sound created by DJ, producer and sound designer Bea Gladding (aka Mr Meaty Boy, Ngāti Porou/Ngā Puhi).

“For the young ones, and the young at heart, Māui Studios will be hosting a multi-player marae-themed Fortnite gaming experience under the glass canopy beside Altiora at The Art Centre,” Ms Blackmore says.

Other new works include colourful sculptures by Alix Ashworth (Waitaha/Ngāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) and by Turumeke Harrington (Kāi Tahu, Rangitāne).

“A theme of Kotahitanga, which means coming together, is woven into this year’s event. We encourage people to come and experience the festival with whānau and friends – it’s a great time for reflection, rest, cultural learning and looking to the year ahead.”

Find more information about Tīrama Mai at What’s On.