All the ways we're celebrating Matariki at Britomart

Tūhono is an ara toi/art trail for Matariki by Arama Tamariki-Enua (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Tumu-te-Varovaro (Rarotonga), Ara’ura (Aitutaki)) that links a string of culturally significant sites in downtown waterfront Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Tūhono means “to tie together” and presents a succession of works which assume the form of a metaphoric waka, highlighting oceanic journeys for tangata whenua and tangata moana for this area, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. The trail, linking Te Komititanga with Takutai Square and Te Tōangaroa, draws a visual and spiritual line toward Takaparawhau, the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei ancestral stronghold where Tumutumuwhenua, their whare tupuna, proudly stands.

In Britomart, Tūhono takes the form of colourful panels on Te Ara Tāhuhu and Galway Street and a series of light projections created in collaboration with Angus Muir and Catherine Ellis on Te Rou Kai, the fountain and sculptural stones by Ngāti Whātua artists in Takutai Square. The projected patterns Arama has created are his interpretations of traditional motifs, layered upon a taonga toi/artwork created by a previous generation, encouraging reflections on what is now and what was then.

There are also lightboxes by Arama in Te Komititanga, and a projection on the wall of the Nesuto building, visible from the corner of Beach Road and Tangihua Street. 

The Tūhono light work will open in Takutai Square with a 5.30pm karakia on Thursday 19 June, and run every evening until Wednesday 9 July, with a seven-minute light and sound sequence running on the quarter-hour from 5pm until 10pm. The opening night karakia on Thursday 19 June will be followed by a performance of A Murmuration by the New Zealand Dance Company. For information on this, keep scrolling. 

On Saturday 21 June, the full Tūhono light train from Te Komititanga through Takutai Square to Te Tōangaroa will officially open. There will be a Matariki Market in Māhuhu ki te Rangi, the park outside Spark Arena, from 4pm, and a mihi whakatau and guided walk along the Tūhono trail starting from Te Komititanga at 5pm, concluding with a kapa haka performance at 6pm in Māhuhu ki te Rangi Park. The market in the park continues until 9pm. 

For a full guide to the Tūhono and Tūrama art trails downtown, visit this link. 

A street battle meets sibling showdown in a contemporary tale of Matariki at Britomart. Created by ‘Isope ‘Akau‘ola, one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most exciting young choreographers, Tāwhiri’s Ring reimagines the mythic clash between Tāwhirimātea and his siblings as a dance battle with serious mana on the line. It’s fast, fierce, and unapologetically physical - krump meets haka, with the dramatic flair of a WWE face-off. Footwork flies, alliances shift, and every move hits with the weight of whakapapa in this free outdoor performance. Set in the open air, this is mythology remixed for the streets - sweat, shadow-boxing, and the elemental magic of Matariki, with energy off the charts. Catch The New Zealand Dance Company and Unitec Dance throwing down in a performance that’s part turf war, part tribute, and all heart.

12.30PM Thursday 19 June, Takutai Square

Inspired by the swirling flight of starlings, A Murmuration captures the quiet power of collective movement. With sweeping choreography and shifting formations, dancers weave, circle, dissolve and reform in patterns that feel both instinctive and precise. Poetic and uplifting, this is movement that breathes.

Drawing on the spirit of Matariki whetū Tupu-ā-rangi, the whetū linked to birdsong, forest life and the natural world, A Murmuration is a work that honours intuition, interconnection, and the quiet forces that bind us. Choreographed by Bianca Hyslop (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi-Wāhiao, Pākehā). 

6PM, Thursday 19 June, Takutai Square

The acclaimed kapa haka performers from Manurewa's James Cook High School return to Takutai Square to give another rousing performance that's sure to delight lunchtime crowds.

DJ Basmami will be playing before and after the performances. 

12.15PM-12.45PM and 1PM-1.30PM, Tuesday 24 June, Takutai Square

The award-winning kapa haka group from the high school at Hoani Waititi Marae brings their magic to Takutai Square. 

DJ Dazzle will be playing before and after the performances.

12.15PM-12.45PM and 1PM-1.30PM, Thursday 26 June, Takutai Square

Come to Takutai Square for a half-hour, very special early evening performance by taonga pūoro practitioners Sina Leo, Mikaere Berryman-Kamp, Jess Robinson, Ryan Tomov and Hasji.

5.45PM-6.15PM, Friday 27 June, 5.45PM-6.15PM, Friday 4 July, Takutai Square

The spoken word poetry collective Rehekōrero have been building a big following for their performances, so we're honoured that they'll be holding one in Takutai Square, in which Sheldon Rua, Milan Moala, Billy McCarthy, Piremina Ngapera and Koromiko Jacob-Williams reflect on Matariki and other issues that have been catching their attention. 

6.30PM-7PM, Friday 27 June, Takutai Square