Family Festival Fun For Matariki In Wellington

Night sky discoveries, storytellers, a flash mob, star weaving and experiencing a night-time tour of six of Wellington’s art galleries are just a few of the events and activities for children and families during the Wellington Matariki Festival.

Eight of Wellington’s museums and art galleries are presenting the Wellington Matariki Festival featuring more than 60 free events and activities between Saturday 13 June to Sunday 12 July.

The Festival includes the first week of the July school holidays with activities for children taking place at most of the musuems and galleries.

Children and their families are encouraged to come and join the fun of the Poi E/Thriller Flash Mob in Wellington’s Civic Square on Saturday 13 June and associated with the Candice Breitz exhibition at City Gallery; or make a trip to Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand to have fun with light at Light Painting (18 & 25 June, & 2 July).

Also at Te Papa, hip hop performances and the annual Matariki breaking competition Soul Clap takes place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June; while pre-schoolers aren’t forgotten either with Tīrama, Tīrama Tamariki Mā! (23, 23 & 26 June) a show mixing storytelling, song and music. On the 27 and 28 June Ngāti Toa Rangatira Family Weekend offers plenty of entertainment, workshops and activities and children can make their own mini-garden to take home.

Highlighting the stars of Matariki is a focus of the planetarium shows at the Space Place at Carter Observatory throughout the Festival with a special ‘light’ gallery trail designed to keep young ones entertained. On Sunday 5 July, the Space Place at Carter Observatory throws open the doors for its Whanau Day with planetarium shows, face painting, live music, storytelling, pop-up experiments and puppet shows.

The Dowse Art Museum also heads outdoors on Friday 3 July for Walk Amongst the Stars which includes a presentation and a Star Party in Dowse Square. Whanau Day at the Dowse Art Museum is on Saturday 11 July with workshops, guided gallery walks and face painting.

The Pataka Education Matariki Programme at Pataka Art + Museum focuses on Porirua harbour with a theme of ‘kaitiakitanga’ (conservation) with hands-on activities through June and July.

At Expressions Whirinaki in Upper Hutt, marvel at some of the most remembered and celebrated photographs in the world in the 50 Greatest Photographs of National Geographic exhibition.

Matariki star weaving workshops at Mahara Gallery in Waikanae are perfect for children aged from four years old and take place on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 July. Mahara Gallery also presents Puanga Kai Rau, Matariki Tini Rau on Friday 10 July. This special show, performed by tamariki (children) and their whānau from the Kāpiti region from ONE Kura – Whare Karetao, marks the arrival of Puanga and Matariki in the winter night skies with a story told using puppets, storytelling and taonga puoro (traditional intstruments) and centred around a garden filled with magical characters.

On Thursday 2 July, six of the eight museums and galleries will be open late for Art Night with free transport between and special events and performances. For full details of all events, visit matarikiwellington.org

ENDS

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