Matariki spell cast on kids of all ages

Mailau Skudder, with son Ryan Skudder, 3, at the Matariki Whanau Night on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser

It was advertised as a family event, and the adults learned just as much as the children at the Rotorua Museum's Matariki Whanau Night.

Around 300 people turned out on Saturday to celebrate the Maori New Year, the Cosmodome fully booked.

"It was like a virtual experience with the night sky being projected on the ceiling," said Mailau Skudder, who took his son Ryan, 3, to the event with extended family.

"I didn't really know what Matariki was before this experience. The kids really enjoyed it. Ryan loved it. He showed a lot of interest in Matariki.

"They've been learning about it at daycare so he's been coming home and talking about the sun, stars and Earth."

He was joined at the event by partner Janelle Retemeyer, stepdaughter Maia Stowe, 10, and mum Dolina Skudder.

"It was a great night for the kids," he said.

As well as the popular Cosmodome, which was a digital experience, there was also entertainment from the Travelling Tuataras.

Rotorua Museum sales and marketing co-ordinator Kathy Nicholls said it was "a really good night".

"We had people coming along without children, even though it was aimed at children," she said.

"The Cosmodome is definitely something we'll look at doing again."

The museum will host a talk by Maori astronomy expert Dr Rangi Matamua on Thursday from 7pm.