Matariki Dawn Viewing & Breakfast - Waihī Beach
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DETAILS:
Arrive: 5.45 am for a 6 am start.
511 Seaforth Road, Bowentown Waihī Beach
Followed by breakfast at Otawhiwhi Marae.
All are welcome.
A quiet beginning to a new year
Matariki is the name of a star cluster that rises in the midwinter sky, its appearance marking the beginning of a new year in te ao Māori. This is a time to remember those who have passed, reflect on the year behind us, and look forward with intention.
Each star within the cluster holds significance, connected to elements such as food, water, wind, and the environment, reflecting the relationship between people and the whenua. For many, it is both deeply personal and collective, a moment to honour the past, while gently turning toward what lies ahead.
2026 THEME: Ururangi
In 2026, the guiding theme is Ururangi, the star connected to the winds of the sky. Traditionally observed to help predict the weather patterns shaping planting, harvesting, and travel, Ururangi reminds us that by looking up, we might better understand what lies ahead.
It starts before the light. People arrive in the dark, wrapped in oodies and blankets, beanies pulled down against the winter air. Fires burn in braziers along the reserve outside Bowentown Coastguard. There are marshmallows. There is kōrero. And slowly, as the horizon begins to shift, the dawn arrives.
“Matariki dawn viewing is a unique and heartwarming experience where all sorts of different people come together to celebrate and learn about our local pūrākau and our national identity. I really do feel blessed to be part of a close, connected community when we come together to celebrate something so special and unique to Aotearoa.”
— Leanne
An open invitation
Whether Matariki is something you have grown up celebrating or something entirely new, this gathering is open to all. There are no expectations to know the stories beforehand, only a willingness to listen, learn, and be present.
Following the dawn viewing, the morning continues with a pōwhiri and shared breakfast at Otawhiwhi Marae, grounded in manaakitanga and community.
Matariki offers something we don’t often give ourselves: time. Time to remember. Time to reflect. Time to begin again.
And in a place like Waihī Beach, standing at the edge of the ocean as the day slowly arrives, that invitation feels entirely natural. We would love to see you there.
Arrive: 5.45 am for a 6 am start.
511 Seaforth Road, Bowentown Waihī Beach
Followed by breakfast at Otawhiwhi Marae.
All are welcome.
A quiet beginning to a new year
Matariki is the name of a star cluster that rises in the midwinter sky, its appearance marking the beginning of a new year in te ao Māori. This is a time to remember those who have passed, reflect on the year behind us, and look forward with intention.
Each star within the cluster holds significance, connected to elements such as food, water, wind, and the environment, reflecting the relationship between people and the whenua. For many, it is both deeply personal and collective, a moment to honour the past, while gently turning toward what lies ahead.
2026 THEME: Ururangi
In 2026, the guiding theme is Ururangi, the star connected to the winds of the sky. Traditionally observed to help predict the weather patterns shaping planting, harvesting, and travel, Ururangi reminds us that by looking up, we might better understand what lies ahead.
It starts before the light. People arrive in the dark, wrapped in oodies and blankets, beanies pulled down against the winter air. Fires burn in braziers along the reserve outside Bowentown Coastguard. There are marshmallows. There is kōrero. And slowly, as the horizon begins to shift, the dawn arrives.
“Matariki dawn viewing is a unique and heartwarming experience where all sorts of different people come together to celebrate and learn about our local pūrākau and our national identity. I really do feel blessed to be part of a close, connected community when we come together to celebrate something so special and unique to Aotearoa.”
— Leanne
An open invitation
Whether Matariki is something you have grown up celebrating or something entirely new, this gathering is open to all. There are no expectations to know the stories beforehand, only a willingness to listen, learn, and be present.
Following the dawn viewing, the morning continues with a pōwhiri and shared breakfast at Otawhiwhi Marae, grounded in manaakitanga and community.
Matariki offers something we don’t often give ourselves: time. Time to remember. Time to reflect. Time to begin again.
And in a place like Waihī Beach, standing at the edge of the ocean as the day slowly arrives, that invitation feels entirely natural. We would love to see you there.
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Where is it happening?
511 Seaforth Rd, Bowentown, Waihi Beach 3177, New Zealand, 511 Seaforth Rd, Bowentown, Waihi Beach 3177, New Zealand, Tauranga
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherWaihī Beach
