Matariki Herenga Waka is the theme uniting this year’s Matariki celebrations, a phrase that encourages inclusion and sharing cultural practices.
An adaptation of a proverb describing the Tāmaki (Auckland) region as a gathering place of mano canoes, the theme honours the identity of Tāmaki Makaurau while highlighting the relationship between the region, Matariki and waka.
“Auckland is often called the “city of sails,” and the Matariki cluster sits within Te Waka o Rangi - the great celestial canoe of Rangi. But the deeper meaning of Matariki herenga waka is that Tāmaki is a home for everyone, and Matariki is a constellation that connects all people” says Professor Rangi Mātāmua, Chief Advisor Mātauranga Matariki.
“As the heart of Pacific peoples worldwide, Tāmaki Makaurau is shaped by Māori and Pacific cultures that share whakapapa, language, and long histories of ocean voyaging. Many Pacific peoples recognise the Matariki star cluster in their own traditions: Matariki in Aotearoa, the Cook Islands and Rapanui, Mataali‘i in Samoa, Mataliki in Tonga, Makali‘i in Hawai‘i. Each culture marks the rising of the stars as a time to reflect, gather, and prepare for the year ahead.”
“Across the Pacific, recognition of these shared traditions is growing. Last year, French Polynesia celebrated its first public holiday for Matari‘i i ni‘a, welcoming the season of abundance across Tahiti. The move highlights a wider resurgence of indigenous knowledge and celestial navigation across the region.”
“In Auckland and across Aotearoa New Zealand, the connections between tangata whenua and tangata o le Moana are lived every day. Many kupu (words) are shared across te reo Māori and Pacific languages. Traditions like hāngī and umu speak to shared ways of cooking passed down through generations. Cultural practices like weaving, carving, kapa haka, fa’ataupati (Samoan dance), and lakalaka (Tongan dance) stand side by side, shaping the city’s identity.”
“This year, Aotearoa will come together once more for the fifth hautapu ā motu at Takaparawhau, Ōrākei Marae. For five years, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei have warmly welcomed the public onto their whenua, and this year everyone is welcome” says Mātāmua.
As Matariki rises, Matariki Herenga Waka invites all New Zealanders to recognise the connections that weave together Māori and Pacific peoples - past, present, and future.
Matariki Herenga Waka will be livestreamed on Whakaata Māori, TVNZ+, Sky Open and matariki.com from 6am on 10 July 2026.
This piece was kindly shared with us by Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture & Heritage.