Across Aotearoa New Zealand, the return of the Matariki star cluster marks a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future. Whether you are embarking on an early morning trek to the tihi (summit) or gathering with loved ones over a shared meal, Cornwall Park and Maungakiekie One Tree Hill offer a beautiful space to connect.

What is Matariki?

Matariki is a star cluster that appears in the early morning sky during the mid-winter months. Globally, it is also known as the Pleiades, Subaru, or the "Seven Sisters" of Greek mythology.

The three pillars

Matariki is guided by three core principles. Cornwall Park and Maungakiekie One Tree Hill is the perfect landscape to honour these pillars, offering a place for whānau and friends to connect with te taiao (the environment) and each other.

Remembrance (Honouring the Past): Reflecting on and honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki.

Celebrating the Present: Gathering together, sharing kai, and giving thanks for the abundance and companionship we enjoy today.

Looking to the Future: Looking forward to the promise of a new season and a new year.

Whether it’s a family picnic, a coffee at the bistro, or a quiet stroll along our tree-lined avenues, the park offers the perfect space to step away from busy lives and reset.

How to view the Matariki stars

Finding the cluster in the early morning sky is a beautiful ritual. To locate Matariki in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with the naked eye, look toward the eastern horizon before dawn and follow these steps:

• Locate three bright stars in a row. This is known as Tautoru or Orion’s belt.
• Trace a line to the left of Tautoru until you come to a group of stars in the shape of a pyramid. This is Te Kokotā.
• To the left of Te Kokotā you will see a tight cluster of stars. This is Matariki.

Tip: The darker the sky, the clearer the stars. Cornwall Park is dedicated to keeping our urban skies dark. Unfocused night lighting disrupts wildlife, impacts health, and blocks our view of the universe. By ensuring park lighting points downward and doesn't spill, we can protect the night.

The Maungakiekie self-guided hīkoi

This year we are hosted a self-guided hīkoi up Maungakiekie during Matariki from 8 July – 12 July. The event was a collaboration between the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, Stardome, and Cornwall Park, running as a part of the Tāmaki Makaurau Matariki Festival.

Participants were encouraged to absorb the sounds of the winter environment at their own pace, following the trails up to the tihi (summit) of Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill. The journey symbolically moved from te Pō (the night) into te Ao Mārama (the world of light), mirroring the rising of Matariki and the Māori new year.

Best Viewing Time: Just before 6am, as Matariki appears above the horizon in the stunning dawn light.

For more details, visit our Matariki info page.