Matariki Rotorua

Te Umu Kohukohu Whetū

Matariki Rotorua 2022 | Friday 24 June | Motutara Point | 5.30am

Rotorua is hosting an umu kohukohu whetū on the shore of Lake Rotorua to honour Matariki being observed as a public holiday.

This inaugural Matariki civic ceremony will provide the public an opportunity to participate in an umu kohukohu whetū, which is a traditional way Māori exercised reciprocity with the atua and stars.

An umu is made with different food which relate to the individual stars of Matariki. When the kai is cooked, it is placed on a tūāhu (platform) and the essence is enveloped into the steam. As the steam rises, it feeds the stars of Matariki.

As part of the ceremony, people can speak the names of loved ones who passed the previous year and the names will travel upwards to become stars. It is part of the grieving process, and by saying their name, we are wishing them farewell as they make their journey home.

Dress warm and bring a torch. Allow 20 minutes to walk to the ceremony location from parking within Government Gardens. Parking will be available at Energy Events Centre (please be parked by 5am).
Tīrama, an interactive light show representing Matariki, will be set-up along the Sulphur Point corridor towards the ceremonial site.
A free return shuttle will be available from Energy Events Centre for kaumātua/elderly/limited ability.
Please do not film the formal ceremony and karakia (although you may take photos before and after the ceremony).

Our partners

The inaugural Matariki civic ceremony for Rotorua is brought to the community by Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Uenukukopako, Ngā Pou ō Whakapoungakau, Te Tokotoru o Manawakotokoto , Healthy Families Rotorua, Te Tatau o Te Arawa, Rotorua Lakes Council, and Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust.

The ceremony is apart of the Matariki o Te Arawa rōpū and funded by Te Arawhiti - The Office for Māori Crown Relations.

Matariki o Te Arawa is a collaboration of Healthy Families Rotorua, Rotorua Lakes Council’s Te Amorangi Unit, mana whenua of Motutara Point and Te Arawa to reinvigorate Matariki mātauranga and commemorations according to Te Arawa kawa and tikanga.

The overall goal was for Te Arawa rōpū to activate wānanga, resources, and ceremonial events to revive Matariki, so it is normalised for our tamariki and mokopuna.

Following extensive engagement and consultation across Te Arawa iwi and hapū by Healthy Families Rotorua, a collective Matariki funding application on behalf of 15 Te Arawa organisations was submitted to Te Arawhiti, under the umbrella of Te Tatau o Te Arawa.

We acknowledge the support, initiative, and hard work of these organisations to bring these activities to life, and look forward to engaging with them on future Matariki events.

Our aims

· Revitalise traditional mātauranga Māori practices.

· Raise awareness of Matariki.

· Ensure Te Arawa knowledge is recognised and held in trust for iwi.

· Enable inclusivity.