A New Decade of Celebration in New Zealand

June 10, 2010 at 8:00 am · Filed under international travel, new zealand, tourism, travel and tagged: matariki, pacific new year, travel writing

By Linda Tancs

Matariki or Aotearoa Pacific New Year is a unique festival dictated by the rising of the Pleiades star formation, occurring this year on 14 June. Matariki is especially important to the Ngati Kahungunu people, the second largest tribal region which stretches from the Wharerata ranges in the Wairoa district to Cape Palliser in South Wairarapa. This tribal region is credited with reviving modern-day Matariki celebrations, naming Matariki 2010 “A New Decade of Celebration.” New Zealand’s national museum in Wellington, Te Papa, is developing a full events program that will run for 18 days from 10 – 27 June. Be sure to view Pleiades at Wellington’s newly refurbished Carter Observatory, which is organizing a public observation of the constellation from the top of Wellington’s Mount Victoria early on 14 June. Happy New Year!

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The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.

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