An ideal evening for stargazing

The Matariki Whanau Night is a popular annual event at the Rotorua Museum enjoyed by all ages.

The Rotorua Museum is set to host its ever-popular Matariki Whanau Night.

Celebrating the Maori New Year, the family fun evening tomorrow will offer visitors a chance to explore constellations, including star cluster Matariki, seen in the Southern Hemisphere up close in the portable Cosmodome planetarium.

The Travelling Tuataras will also be entertaining children with their interactive storytelling, and there will be lantern and star-crafts, waiata (singing), face painting and more.

Rotorua Museum sales and marketing co-ordinator Kathy Nicholls says it is the fourth time the museum has held the Matariki celebrations.

"It just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. It's very rapidly growing in popularity. I think it's a great time to get families out, there's not a lot of things in town this time of year for families to do and this event appeals to all ages."

Advance bookings are recommended as the Cosmodome sessions were already selling out.

Matariki Whanau Night is the first event in a programme of Rotorua Lakes Council activities celebrating Matariki 2015.

The museum will also host a talk by Maori astronomy expert Dr Rangi Matamua on Thursday, June 25.

Other activities in the programme include fun family walks, kite flying, Night Market activities, a fashion show and a poster design competition for Rotorua students. For more information visit www.rotoruanz.com.

What: Matariki Whanau Night.
When: Tomorrow from 6pm
Where: Rotorua Museum
Cost: Adults $5, Children (5-15 years) $3, Under 5s free