Dawn viewing of Matariki from Tangi te Keo

Dawn viewing of Matariki from Tangi te Keo

When: Saturday 28 June, 7am & Saturday 5 July, 7am (weather permitting)

Where: Tangi te Keo (Mount Victoria lookout)

Free entry and no bookings required.

Matariki can be observed live through Dobsonian telescopes on Saturday 28 June and Saturday 5 July at dawn at Tangi te Keo (Mount Victoria). Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Carter Observatory, Wellington Tenths Trust, Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust and Te Wharewaka o Poneke Charitable Trust come together to celebrate the Māori New Year from 7am.

Astronomers from Carter Observatory will give people the opportunity to use the portable telescopes to get a real-time experience of Matariki rising. Iwi will then explain the significance of the constellation and use the signs to predict planting for the new season. This will then inform the start of an exciting planting project later in the year involving Museum of Wellington City & Sea and mana whenua.

Head of Learning and Programmes, Rachel Ingram says, “We’re excited to celebrate Matariki outdoors. It gives people the opportunity to come together to find out more about the Māori new year from local Iwi and astronomers.”

Participation to view Matariki from Tangi te Keo is free, and includes use of the telescopes. Please note that the viewings are weather dependant, and updates will be on Facebook.

Dawn viewing from Tangi te Keo is part of the Matariki Festival in Wellington.

The star cluster Matariki (also known as the Pleiades) appears in the dawn sky above Aotearoa New Zealand in late May or early June. The new moon following the rising of Matariki signals the Māori New Year.

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