Matariki Family Fun Day at Carter Observatory

Matariki Family Fun Day

Matariki is the perfect time to bring family together and what better place to do it than at Carter Observatory.

Kids come for free!

Celebrate our Māori New Year with a stellar day out for the whole family at Carter Observatory who will be host to a cosmos full of fun, alongside Capital E and the Museum of Wellington City & Sea.

Matariki Family Day at Carter – July 7

Let us fly you through the night sky and onto the dawn to witness the rise of Matariki. Become a navigator on our Matariki Star Trail. Discover how Matariki became one of the four pillars that hold Rangi forever above us in our special Matariki film alongside our Matariki exhibit. Special showings of Tycho to the Moon, especially aimed at younger kids, will feature in the planetarium followed by a live Matariki presentation.

Reach for the stars and create cosmic constellations with Capital E at Carter Observatory! Using iPad technology, you’ll explore the Southern skies to discover the Southern Cross, Centaurus, the Jewel Box….or even a newly discovered star pattern of your very own. Then you’ll shape and shift your way to become the constellation, putting your picture amongst the stars. With Capital E, even the sky is not your limit as you bring the furthest reaches of space right down to earth.

The Museum of Wellington City & Sea brings Matariki legends to Carter retold by the wonderful Lisa Reweti. Then join us in our make and take Matariki craft where you can create your own porotiti - Māori traditional musical instruments and beautiful putiputi -harakeke flowers - gifts for the Māori New Year.

“Māori knew the stars (Nga Whetū) and other lights in the night sky as ‘Te Whānau Mārama’ or the family of light. To New Zealanders increasingly, Matariki / Puanga is a time to reconnect, celebrate and gather with whānau. Our Family Day is about giving local families the opportunity to spend a fun day together while they learn more about this wonderful time of year,” says Dawn Muir – Marketing Manager at Carter.

Planetarium show times: 10:15, 11:00, 11:45, 12:30, 1:15, 2:00, 2:45, 3:30.

Costs: Adults $18.50 / Concessions $13.50 / Children free / Star Pass holders free.

With cosmic competitions and starry spot prizes, this is an exciting day out for the whole family.

For further information please visit www.carterobservatory.org

ENDS

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