What's happening over Matariki mā Puaka?

Tēnā tātou koutou. It was great seeing so many of our ākonga, kaimahi, and members of our hāpori (community) enjoying Hāngi in the Hub on Wednesday lunchtime.

Huge thanks to our Te Punaka Ōwheo team and some of our awesome Tuakana (student mentors) who helped with the mahi of cooking and serving the delicious kai for us to enjoy.  And also to Logan Park High School’s kapahaka rōpū, Te Kapua o te Raki, who shared their talent and energy with a special performance over lunch.

Matariki-Puaka is a time of reflection, renewal, and remembrance. For us as Ōtākou hapū, it is a time to celebrate through various activities such as hakari, karakia, waiata, rest, future planning, and setting intentions - all while coming together as a collective.

Ngi mhi, Megan Pōtiki

I also wanted to share to share some of the exciting kaupapa happening in Ōtepoti to celebrate Matariki-Puaka 2025..

* Matariki Ahuka Nui Dawn Ceremony, Otago Museum


In collaboration with Otago Museum and Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, the Dunedin City Council and Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou welcomes everyone to a public event to celebrate the Māori new year.

The pre-dawn rising of the star Puaka and the Matariki clusters signals the end of one full cycle of the seasons and the beginning of the next. Please join us on the Tūhura Otago Museum Reserve for a karakia to farewell the past year and welcome the new one.

The ceremony will include a whakamaumahara to rember those who have passed away, and awhakamāramataka about the starts and their significance for the changing seasons. We warmly invite attendees to bring a printed photo of whānau or friends who have passed away over the past year. During the whakamaumahara, you will be invited to hold the image of your loved one and you may speak their name aloud in remembrance.

Following the dawn event, gather together for some kai before a kapa haka performance by He Waka Kōtuia, then continue the Matariki celebrations with out Community Fun Day, which begins at 9:30am

* Matariki mā Puaka, drone show event at Logan Park

Our Ōtākou whānau have been working closely with the DCC to bring this year’s drone show event to life at Logan Park.

The evening kicks off at 5:30pm with a kapa haka performance and live entertainment, followed by the first drone show at 6:00pm. More entertainment will continue thoughout the evening, leading up to a repeat of the drone show at 8:30pm. Food trucks and coffee carts will be onsite, so whānau can grab some kai and enjoy the festivities.

Enjoy live entertainment throughout the evening, including performance by 1 Drop Nation, He Waka Kōtuia, and the evocative sounds of taoka puoro.

He whakaaturaka matatopa - light drone shows, 6pm and 8.30pm

Come celebrate Matariki and Puaka in Ōtepoti with Matariki mā Puaka, where the night sky comes alive with dazzling drone lights, weaving local stories into the starts.

Date: Saturday 21st June 2025
Time: 5:30pm - 9:00pm
Location:- Logan Park

* Matariki mā Puaka Public Workshops / Presentation

Take part in workshops and storytelling sessions that explore rich creation narratives and mahika kai (traditional food gathering practices) with mana whenua experts and practitioners.

This is a public event taking place under a marquee at Logan Park before the drone show - this is your opportunity to learn about our Kāi Tahu creation narrative, which will be delivered by myself (Dr Megan Pōtiki).

Tumai Cassidy will follow with a presentation around mahika kai, environment indicators, and seasons.

Date: Saturday 21st June 2025
Time: 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Location: Marque at Logan Park

* The Journey of Mataatua Whare

Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead’s new composition telling the journey of Mataatua Whare will premiere in Dunedin on 28 June, performed by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra.

The work, developed by Tessa Petersen, follows the whare’s creation in Whakatāne, its time overseas and in Dunedin, and its return home.

Date: Saturday 28th June 2025
Location: Dunedin Town Hall
- More details here