It’s only a few days till Matariki, the Maori New Year. Celebrations and festivals will be held all over New Zealand – a great way to sample Maori culture.
A great way to learn more about Matariki, which denotes a cluster of stars rising at this time of year, is the Matariki Dawn planetarium show at Stardome Observatory in Auckland. From 15 June till 19 June, Stardome puts on a planetarium show that highlights both astronomical and cultural aspects of the Matariki star cluster.
Listen to Maori myths and stories about the creation of Earth and moon and find out about the Maori New Year! Stardome’s 360-degree planetarium brings you up-close with outer space and the stars appearing in the skies at this time of the year.
The 1.5-hour Stardome Matariki Dawn Show includes a planetarium show, topical space talk and telescope viewing, and tickets cost $16 ($14 senior/student, $8 child, $35 family). If you’re an early riser you might also want to get your hands on tickets for the Matariki Breakfast on Saturday 18 June at 5:30am. For more details head to the Stardome Observatory website.
Or why not arrange accommodation in a secluded country lodge where you have clear views of the night skies? Rise early and go star gazing before heading back inside for your gourmet breakfast!
Matariki Dawn Show: 15 – 19 June 2011
Matariki Breakfast: 18 June 2011