Rising Stars on the Horizon

The month-long celebration of Puaka Matariki is getting underway next week. From 29 May – 24 June, there will be 26 events celebrating the rising of these constellations on Dunedin’s horizon.

DCC Puaka Matariki Co-Ordinator, Gina Huakau says, “The community support this year has been phenomenal with groups from Brockville to Port Chalmers and Macandrew Bay getting involved with organising events as well as all the community libraries and many play centres and schools.”

The 2010 Puaka Matariki celebration has a wide range of events, from the yearly favourite ‘Marae Idol’ to new features such as ‘Oi! 2010’, which will see two shipping containers dropped in the Octagon, and converted into performance spaces. Part of the conversion process includes a Graffiti Art Symposium on Tuesday 1 June hosted by Dunedin business Visual Intelligence. The containers will showcase film, documentaries, live performances and art from around Aotearoa from Wednesday 2 June until Monday 7 June.

For a family-oriented star-gazing session, focussed on learning about the Puaka star and Matariki constellation, the Beverley Begg Observatory will open its roof on Monday 31 May, from 7.30pm.

Ms Huakau comments, “This year, there is something for everyone, with children’s events aimed at children – and adults’ events that adults will really get into!”

In the first week alone, there are live performances, including Dunedin’s professional Kapahaka group, Te Waipounamu Culture Group, evening events such as the Tangente Café Performance Supper Club, community events such as the Planting Day at Tomahawk Beach, workshops, story-telling and much more.

A full list of events is available from DCC Customer Services Centres, Libraries and on the DCC website at www.dunedin.govt.nz/puakamatariki.