Nau mai, haere mai ki, Porirua City. Join us to celebrate the 2024 Māori New Year.
Matariki will be celebrated in Porirua from 27 June – 7 July this year. It’s a time to spend with whānau, share stories and kai, remember your ancestors and celebrate life.
We’re planning a range of events and activities for the whole whānau to enjoy. Keep an eye on our Facebook Events page for upcoming events.
Exhibitions at Pātaka Art + Museum
Events in Porirua
26 June
Reorua Story World
📅 Wednesday 26 June, 10.30am
🗺️ City Centre Library
➡️ Free
Story Time at the Library: bilingual stories, waiata and craft for preschoolers.
27 June
Pēpi Waiata Baby Band
📅 Thursday 27 June, 10.30am
🗺️ Porirua Library
➡️ Free
Baby Band at the Library: waiata for babies and their kaitiaki
27 June
Illustrator Workshop with Story Hemi-Morehouse
Music by The Harp Lady, Karen Jones
📅 Thursday 27 June, 12.30pm
🗺️ City Centre Library
➡️ Free
This is a closed event suitable for senior primary students and older. Limited numbers, RSVP only.
[email protected]
28–30 June
Light Display at the Harbourside
📅 Friday 28 June - Sunday 30 June, 6pm-9pm
🗺️ Porirua harbourside
➡️ Free
The harbourside area will have a never-seen-before outdoor light display for the whole family to walk through and experience. There’ll be fireside stories and buskers, and delicious kai to purchase too.
Proudly sponsored by AV Media
28 June - 7 July
Matariki Under the Stars – an interactive experience
📅 Friday 28 June – Sunday 30 June, 10am-8pm
📅 Saturday 6 July - Sunday 7 July, 10am-3pm
🗺️ Te Rauparaha Arena
➡️ Free
Encounter the night sky from inside Te Rauparaha Arena, with interactive experiences.
Sessions will run from 10am – 8pm. Each session is 30 minutes long, and will run every 45 minutes between 10am – 8pm.
28 June
Matariki Whānau Day
📅 Friday 28 June, 10am – 2pm
🗺️ Pātaka Art + Museum
➡️ Free
A special celebration for the kai stars of Matariki, Tupuārangi and Tupuānuku – the stars connected to food grown in and above the ground.
29 June
Matariki Community Planting Day
📅 Saturday 29 June, 12pm-4pm
🗺️ Belmont Regional Park - Waitangirua Farm at 44 Waihora Cres
➡️ Free, registration: [email protected] with your name and the number of people attending.
Join us and Greater Wellington at Belmont Regional Park to celebrate Matariki weekend by planting native grasses and trees to restore and enhance the mauri of our waterways. Find out more click here to see the Facebook event
2 July
Group Fitness Under the Stars: Les Mills BodyJam
📅 Tuesday 2 July, 5.30pm – 6.20pm
🗺️ Te Rauparaha Arena
➡️ No registration required, all abilities welcome. Participants must be aged 15 or over.
A dance-based workout under the stars that will help you get your glow on and have fun – led by the Arena Fitness team.
2 July
Group Fitness Under the Stars: Les Mills BodyBalance
📅 Tuesday 2 July, 6.30pm – 7.20pm
🗺️ Te Rauparaha Arena
➡️ No registration required, all abilities welcome. Participants must be aged 15 or over.
Let's stretch and unwind together at our special glowing Matariki-themed BodyBalance class – brought to you by the team at Arena Fitness.
3 July
Celebrate Matariki 2024 with the Porirua Multicultural Council
📅 Wednesday 3 July, 6pm – 9pm
🗺️ Te Rauparaha Arena
➡️ Free entry
Celebrate Matariki with spectacular on-stage cultural performances – brought to you by the Porirua Multicultural Council in collaboration with Multicultural New Zealand.
4 July
Hāngi Under the Stars
📅Thursday 4 July, 5pm – 7pm
🗺️ Te Rauparaha Arena
➡️ Pre-orders only (to order, please call Te Rauparaha Arena reception 04 237 1521)
Join us for a hearty hāngi under the sky in our spectacular starlit setting.
On arrival, pick up your individual hāngi serving and get comfy at one of our tables. Enjoy the atmosphere and feel like you are sitting under the stars– inside!
Hāngi – available from Te Rauparaha Arena, between 5–7pm. Dine in or take away
The hāngi includes a chicken drumstick, pork, stuffing, cabbage, pumpkin, kumara and steamed pudding.
A vegetarian option is available on request when booking.
5 July
Waiata Under the Stars
📅 Friday 5 July, 6pm – 7.30pm
🗺️ Te Rauparaha Arena
➡️ Koha at the door
Join us for a song-filled evening. Come and enjoy the spectacular starlight display, which will bring the stars indoors for all to enjoy.
6 July
Banquet Under the Stars featuring The Lady Killers
📅 Saturday 6 July, 6 pm arrival – 6.30pm start
🗺️ Te Rauparaha Arena
➡️ $95 pp and cash bar: TICKETS
Dress code: dress to impress, sparkles welcome
Join us to celebrate the Māori New Year. Enjoy a three-course banquet dinner while listening to The Lady Killers, brought to life through stunning visual effects at Te Rauparaha Arena. All dietary requirements catered for and cash bar available.
7 July
Barbershop Under the Stars with Pacific Connection Choir
📅 Sunday 7 July, 7pm – 8pm
🗺️ Te Rauparaha Arena
➡️ $10 per person at the door
Join us for an evening of waiata with Pacific Connection Choir. Come and enjoy the spectacular starlight display, which will bring the stars indoors for all to enjoy.
8 - 10 July
School holiday Matariki Workshops
📅 Monday 8 - Wednesday 10 July: 10am – 11am and 1- 2pm
🗺️ National Library and Pātaka Art + Museum
➡️ Free, register: [email protected] or call 04-230-6576
Using a whāriki star map and special glowing pīataata, come and share the magic of Matariki this Hōtoke season. Suitable for children 6yrs+. See more details on Facebook
