The event hub will be at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, but works will also be positioned along Worcester Boulevard, at Riverside Market and at Te Pae by the Ōtakaro Avon River.

The free, cultural festival, produced by Christchurch City Council, brings together an array of artistic, lighting and cultural displays, including performances and storytelling.

Come into the city with friends and whānau to discover the trail of illuminated artworks, projections, music soundscapes and interactive installations. Tīrama Mai will feature a combo of all-new works and crowd-pleasers from the last couple of years.

On opening night enjoy kapa haka performances at The Art Centre in the North Quad.

There’ll be live storytelling sessions alongside kapa haka between 6.30pm and 8pm on the following dates under the canopy next to Altiora:

  • Saturday 22 June and Sunday 23 June
  • Thursday 27 June – Sunday 30 June

A huge thanks to our partners and sponsors - Orion, Connetics, Trees for Canterbury, Whitiora, Dark Sky Project, Āmiki Cultural Food Tours, Streamliner, Crowne Plaza Christchurch and The Hits.

The Story of Puaka-Matariki

The appearance of the Matariki star cluster – made up of nine stars(external link)(external link) – welcomes in Te Tau Hou, the New Year. Rising in the north-east sky, the star cluster is not always readily visible in all parts of New Zealand.

For those living in Te Waipounamu, the South Island, Puanga is a brighter star in the night sky which rises earlier than Matariki and is often considered to herald the New Year. Some iwi celebrate Puanga rather than Matariki as Te Tau Hou.

The rise of Puanga and Matariki is often acknowledged as being a time of coming together and of reflecting on the past year, on the people who have passed and on whakapapa (genealogy).

Whakapapa sets out the beginning and continuing relationships between everything - past and present. It accounts for the way in which all things have been created: the stars, earth, sky, oceans, rivers, elements, minerals, plants, animals and all people.