Matariki Whānau Night at Rotorua Museum Saturday
[L - R] Matariki Whānau Night at Rotorua Museum in 2013 and Starlab at Rotorua Museum in 2013
Bring the family down to Rotorua Museum to share the Matariki (Maori new year) celebrations on Saturday 28 June 2014, from 5pm until 9.30pm. With storytelling, arts and crafts, face painting, star gazing (weather permitting) and more, there will be something to keep the whole family entertained.
The Travelling Tuataras will captivate young audiences with interactive performance adventures. There will be two fun performances throughout the evening at 6pm and 7.30pm with audience participation.
Come and view the stars in Starlab - the museum's cool, inflatable planetarium. Five sessions will run through the night (5pm, 5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 8pm).
Matariki is a star cluster which reappears in the Southern skies during the cold months of winter, signalling the beginning of the Māori New Year. About 500 stars make up the cluster, but only seven can be seen clearly with the naked eye here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Traditionally, Matariki was celebrated by gathering with whānau (family) and reflecting on the past. The connection to the stars provided an opportunity for families to remember their whakapapa (genealogy) and those ancestors who had passed away.
Advanced bookings are essential. Tickets are on sale now at Rotorua Museum reception - adults $5, children $3 and under-fives free. People must book their Starlab session time when they purchase Whānau Night tickets. Due to the limited number of sessions, they will be sold on first-come basis.
During the Museum's Matariki Whānau Night the Museum Caf will be open for refreshments throughout the evening.