Mānawatia a Matariki  This years Ōpōtiki Matariki Festival is brought to you by Ōpōtiki District Council, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, Trust Horizon, Ōpōtiki New World, Healthy Families East Cape, Ōpōtiki isite, Te Pou Oranga o Whakatōhea, Kura Ki Tai Waka Ama CLub, Mataatua Sports, Sports Bay of Plenty, Terere Marae, Kō Kollective Truat, Kia Whakawhirinaki Youth and Whakaatu Whanaunga Trust.

This years Ōpōtiki Matariki Festival will run from July 8th - July 22nd and is made up of events to suit everyone from our pepi to our kaumatua. Have a peep at the calendar below, more details can be found on our events calendar.

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars, that rises in midwinter and for many Māori, heralds the start of the new year.

It is an opportunity for all people of Aotearoa to come together and reflect on the year that has passed, celebrate the present, and plan for the future.

The Ōpōtiki Matariki Festival is jam packed with fun filled events for the whole whānau 

WHAT IS MATARIKI?
The star cluster Matariki appears in our skies in the month of Pipiri (June-July), marking the start of the Māori New Year. This is the coldest time of the year and Pipiri means ‘to draw close’. It’s a time to come together with your friends, whānau, and communities. It’s about eating, reflecting, having fun, and looking forward to the year ahead.