STARS, STORIES & STARGAZING – MATARIKI AT STARDOME!
An interstellar line-up of free events, planetarium shows, telescope viewings, and community connection this winter.
As Matariki rises in the early morning winter sky, Stardome Observatory & Planetarium invites the people of Tāmaki Makaurau to celebrate the Māori New Year with a spectacular season of starry experiences for all ages.
From Monday 27 May through July, Stardome presents Matariki – Ngā Whetū o te Tau Hou (The Stars of the New Year), a planetarium show that takes viewers on a celestial journey into te ao Māori. Settle into your seat beneath the dome and explore ngā whetū (the stars), purākau (ancestral stories), and the Maramataka (lunar calendar) as you connect with the meaning and beauty of Matariki.
MATARIKI OPEN DAY – FREE FOR ALL
Friday 20 June | 10AM–9PM
Stardome’s much-anticipated Matariki Open Day returns! With free admission for all, short 20-minute screenings of the Matariki planetarium show will run every half hour throughout the day. These sessions are free but ticketed, so advance bookings are essential.
This year’s regional theme — Matariki ki te wai — invites us to reflect on the importance of our waters: the ocean, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands. As part of the national celebration, Stardome encourages visitors to explore how Matariki can help inspire eco-conscious living and respect for the natural world.
WHAT’S UP IN THE SKY THIS MATARIKI SEASON
On the morning of Friday 20 June, Matariki will be visible on the northeastern horizon at around 6:05AM — a brief but magical moment before sunrise. At this time Venus, Saturn, and the Moon will also line up across the eastern sky. Matariki will be rising a few minutes earlier every day thereafter, giving people slightly longer to see it before the Sun comes up.
Other highlights include:
Meteor showers: 7 May and 30 July, best viewed before dawn with a clear view of Aquarius
Winter Solstice: 21 June — so after that the days start getting longer, yay!
Total Lunar Eclipse: 8 September — visible across Aotearoa
Stargazers are reminded to seek out dark sky locations, wrap up warm, and look to the east!
COMMUNITY CONNECTION UNDER THE STARS
Stardome continues to connect science, culture, and community through its education and outreach programmes this Matariki. Highlights include:
Marakai Project with Royal Oak Primary
Students will return to Stardome to share a hau tapu, cooking kai harvested from their own garden while learning about seasonal cycles and mātauranga Māori.
Stardome acknowledges and thanks the Tūpuna Maunga Authority for the opportunity to share this project with local ākonga.
Taharangi Hou Internships
During the July school holidays, rangatahi with lived experience of te ao Māori will work alongside Stardome staff to explore the intersections between Indigenous storytelling and Western science.
Navigators Music Sessions
A series of live performances celebrating Māori voices and contemporary music will light up the planetarium — announcements coming soon.
MORE STARDOME HIGHLIGHTS THIS WINTER
Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon and Cosmic Legacy: Tribute to Queen return for space rock fans.
Telescope Viewing Nights
Now featuring the recently re-opened Zeiss telescope, guided stargazing is available every Friday and Saturday night (weather dependent). Telescope viewing in the courtyard is also available after evening shows (free for ticket holders, $5 walk-ups).
May the Fourth: Star Wars Sunday at Stardome
Sunday 4 May — a fan-favourite celebration returns with planetarium shows, stormtroopers, LEGO displays, and a cult classic screening of Spaceballs.
Book now — these sessions will book out faster than the Millennium Falcon.
The Stardome whānau complete with astronomers, educators and space geeks are all available for interviews on Matariki, space events and the public programme.
For more information visit: www.stardome.org.nz