The second Matariki public holiday is set to kick off this Friday, and Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau are set to embrace it with a number of events in and around the regions.

For those wanting to make a day of it, spend time with your community or have a relaxing winter’s day with your whānau, here’s what’s on for the Māori new year.

Umu Kohukohu Whetū

If you’re prepared to wake up early, head out to the east Auckland whenua of Takaparawhau/Bastion Point, for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s welcoming of the Māori New Year, Umu Kohukohu whetū.

Umu kohukohu whetū, or hautapu, is an offering.

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To give thanks to the atua (gods) rising in the sky at dawn, steam is lifted to the stars from a specially curated hangi, enabling te atua – Matariki and her daughters Tupu-ā-nuku, Tupu-ā-rangi, Waipunarangi, Waitī and Waitā, and Ururangi – to be nourished as they rise across the whenua.

The central Auckland iwi hosts the most-attended umu kohukohu whetū, with over 1000 expected this year to join the celebrations, give thanks to the gods, and remember loved ones lost in the past year.

Meet at the Ōrākei Marae carpark at 5am, and remember to dress up warm.

Te Karanga a Hape 2023

Central Auckland’s Karangahape Road is set to light up on Thursday with the Te Karanga a Hape street party.

This year’s event theme is He Ara Matarau or Pathway of Diversity, acknowledging the kaleidoscope of cultures, identities, colours, sounds, flavours, unforgettable sights and sensory delights that create the all-inclusive road.

The event includes Matariki flash tattoos, boil ups and bike fairies, markets with Māori crafts people, large-scale Pacific projection art, shop window installations, a skateboard competition, a plus-size thrift crawl, and a patrol of drag queens and drag kings across the street.

A dedicated Matariki pop-up at 214 Karangahape Road will host diverse communities and guest artists from Thursday 13 July until 3 August.

Matariki ki te Manawa

Auckland Council and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei have partnered to visualise the long history of Auckland’s CBD.

Begin the experience at the waharoa (gateway) arching above the intersection of Queen and Shortland Streets. Te Wehenga marks where the land once met the sea.

Each plane of the archway tells a different story. Face the sea and you’ll see symbolism of the moana/harbour. Face the whenua/land and plants and birds will adorn the surface of the waharoa.

As you head south along Queen Street, look around and notice two artworks by artist Fred Graham (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura), Kaitiaki II and Te Waka Taumata o Horotiu, which also speak to the cultural landscape that exists in the valley.

The exhibition will run until July 22.

Matariki Dawn Cruise from Paihia and Kororāreka

On-board guides and tohunga will tell you about the traditions behind Matariki, what it means to Te Ao Māori and how to identify Puanga and the Matariki cluster rising in the Eastern sky.

After time out on the water, the boat will head to the stunning Urupukapuka Island where you will enjoy a breakfast at Otehei Bay.

The boat will return to Kororāreka/Russell and Paihia at approximately 9am, or you can opt to remain on the island for a conservation walk or explore at your leisure.

Tickets can be found here.

Te Tau Hou Māori Puanga Matariki Celebrations

For those in the far North, bring the whānau along to the Paihia waterfront in Northland for a family-friendly range of events celebrating the rise of Puanga and Matariki.

The waterfront will be buzzing with music, story-tellers and kapa haka from 4pm on July 14.

Paihia Village Green will have delicious street food offerings plus arts, crafts and music.

The special Puanga Matariki display starts at 7pm and will last approximately 20minutes.

Attendees will hear the story of the township, written and narrated by Ngati Kawa Taituha and Heeni Hoterene, with taonga puoro (Māori musical instruments) and waiata.

The event is free to attend.

Whakaata Māori

If you’d prefer a day indoors, turn on the telly to Whakaata Māori (formerly Māori TV) to celebrate te tau hou Māori, Matariki, with the special five-hour national broadcast, Mānawatia a Matariki from 6.00AM on July 14.

Beginning at dawn with the traditional hautapu ceremony, Mānawatia a Matariki features reports from across the regions, including a performance by Tauranga family band The Harmonic Resonators.

Join hosts Stacey Morrison (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) and Mātai Smith (Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri) from Ngongotahā Mountain (Rotorua) for live coverage of the national Matariki celebrations.