Poster, Matariki Ahunga Nui

This poster was made for the first national celebration of Matariki in 2022. It was produced by Te Papa, along with Tyrone Ohia and Eva Charlton from design company Extended Whānau. Te Papa hosted the official launch of Matariki as a public holiday, which began with a pre-dawn hautapu ceremony on Friday June 24. The celebration continued for more than a week with a range of events such as expert talks, rongoā sessions, musical and kapa haka performances.

Mānawatia a Matariki
Matariki (Pleiades) is a cluster of stars that comes into view in midwinter, which according the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar) marks the beginning of the new year. The appearance of Matariki is a time for communities to come together and remember the dead, honour ancestors, and celebrate life.

Matariki ahunga nui (the great mounds of Matariki) refers to foods like kūmara which are harvested earlier in the year, stored in large piles, and shared with friends and whānau when Matariki rises. The whakataukī speaks about manaakitanga and being with loved ones, and highlights that Matariki is a time of celebration.