Matariki Midwinter Celebration

Matariki – A time to remember, celebrate and look to the future

Matariki is the Māori celebration of the start of the new year, when the Matariki star cluster rises on the eastern horizon. In the Māori tradition, Matariki is a time to gather with whānau (family) and hoa (friends)) to remember, celebrate, and to look to the future.

The ancient Romans would also mark the start of the new year with friends (amicis) and family (familia) by honouring the god Saturn with a festival called Saturnalia. The festival was a time to dress in bright colours, eat together, and to give small gifts like candles and clay figurines.

Kai for Cena – A midwinter celebration

Kai is an important part of celebrating Matariki and Saturnalia. When the months grow cold, it is time to finish sowing seeds, and gather and store kai for the winter. Saturn has been harvesting and has filled his cornucopia with plenty of kai. But it looks like he has dropped the horn, and now the food is scattered around the museum. Help Tupuānuku gather the kai in her kete (bag) to put in the pātaka (store house). When you find each piece of kai, write the Latin name in the spaces provided.


A Time to Remember, A Time to Hope

We invite you to remember a loved one who made a difference to your life this year by writing their name and a message on a token and placing it in the offering krater in the Museum. You could also write a token of hope and place it in the krater. What dreams do you and your family have for the coming year?

This event is part of Matariki 2024, where we're celebrating Matariki with talented artists from Ōtautahi and beyond. Bring your friends and whānau to Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre (17 - 30 Pipiri June) for music, exhibitions, kapa haka, wānanga (workshops), kai, light installations, special mākete and much more.