The Ōpōtiki Matariki Festival returns this year from June 17 to July 6. Mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate Matariki, te tau hou Māori. The Ōpōtiki Matariki Festival is an event not to be missed. Come and be part of this extraordinary journey that honors the past, celebrates the present, and looks forward to the future. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with the rich cultural heritage of Ōpōtiki and embrace the spirit of Matariki. Manawatia a Matariki!

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 

ENTER OUR MATARIKI COLOURING IN COMPETITION

Download (pdf file below), print & colour your preferred picture. Drop your completed picture to the Ōpōtiki isite, 70 bridge street to enter.

Make sure you write your name, age and contact phone number on the back!!

Entries close Wednesday 3 July 2024.

Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the following age groups: 0-5 yrs, 6 - 12 yrs, 13 - 17 yrs & 18+

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.