Matariki marked in city by stellar attractions for all

A whanau fun night will be held at the Rotorua Museum to celebrate the Maori New Year - Matariki. Photo/Supplied

Matariki is set to start with several events in Rotorua celebrating the Maori New Year.

Matariki is the name given by Maori to the seven-star constellation Pleiades, which can be seen on the north eastern horizon in late-May or June. It signifies the change in seasons and the start of the new Maori lunar calendar. Traditionally, it was a time for remembering the dead, and celebrating new life and beginnings.

This year's month-long event begins on Saturday.

Rotorua Museum is hosting its annual whanau fun night on Saturday with visitors able to explore the stars up close in a portable starlab planetarium.

Children's entertainment group, The Travelling Tuataras, will provide storytelling and kids can take part in star-themed crafts, weaving and face painting.

Rotorua Night Market tonight will also feature Matariki celebrations with a pohiri at 5.15pm led by Te Puia. Cook Islands drummers, carving displays and cooking of hangi and fry will be on show.

A lantern procession is also set to light the skies later that night.

Te Puia is offering a new buffet from tomorrow, Nga Mata Ariki (Food of the chiefs) to coincide with the Maori New Year.

Two exhibitions are on show at the Art Village featuring the work of local artist Marianne Hodge and former Waiariki Institute of Technology student Robyn Tania Williams under the banner of Matariki. Hodge showcases her intricate work on gourds (hue) while Williams displays her Pacific-themed art.

Rotorua Astronomical Society president Ken Blackman said Matariki (Pleiades) is in the constellation of Taurus will be rising in our skies early morning on Saturday.

"At 5.12am it will be rising north east but you won't be able to see it because it's right on the horizon.

"At 6.20am, you should see Venus in the north east and just to the left will be Pleiades. It will be very low down, only 11 degrees in altitude."

Mr Blackman said the constellation was best seen in the spring and summer months as it sat close to the sun.