This year’s national Matariki celebrations will shine a spotlight on Puanga, recognising the star’s importance in Māori astronomical traditions and the diverse ways iwi across New Zealand mark the Māori New Year.

The theme for 2025 is Matariki mā Puanga, acknowledging iwi who look to Puanga as the primary celestial marker of the new year.

The theme will guide events across the country, including the nationally broadcast hautapu ceremony, which will be hosted by Ngāti Rangi at the base of Mount Ruapehu.

“Matariki and Puanga are stars that sit in the night sky together to signal the start of the Māori New Year for different iwi,” said Professor Rangi Mātāmua, the government’s Chief Advisor Mātauranga Matariki.

Mātāmua said the theme was chosen to help people understand and celebrate both star traditions. “While the stars that mark the beginning of the Māori New Year may vary in some regions, the themes that underpin the ceremony and celebration are the same.”

He said the growing recognition of both Matariki and Puanga reflected a global movement toward reconnecting with indigenous astronomical knowledge. “It’s awesome to see understanding of Matariki grow in New Zealand, but even more so across the world as other cultures reconnect with their indigenous astronomical traditions.”

A recent survey showed that 75% of New Zealanders now see Matariki as a time to celebrate the culture, people, and stories of New Zealand—up from 70% in 2023.

“Matariki brings together indigenous and western science,” said Mātāmua. “Institutions like NASA and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich are engaging with mātauranga Matariki and Puanga to deepen their understanding.”

Che Wilson, spokesperson for Ngāti Rangi and a leading mātauranga Puanga expert, said it was a privilege to host this year’s hautapu ceremony, with Puanga recognised nationally.

“Matariki mā Puanga acknowledges and embraces the different traditions, stars and tikanga around celebrating the Māori New Year,” said Wilson. “For Ngāti Rangi and other neighbouring iwi, we look to Puanga as the marker of the Māori New Year.”

“Puanga is the star Rigel—the brightest star in the Orion constellation. Matariki is seen below Puanga and to the left of Tautoru (Orion’s Belt) in the late autumn and early winter night sky.”

Wilson encouraged all New Zealanders to take the opportunity to learn more.

“Matariki and Puanga are for everyone. I encourage people to look up, learn the stories of our stars, and reflect on the year gone and the year ahead.”