Matariki Light Festival

Another cold day in the city with around 5c for most of the day.

In the evening we went to our favourite Japanese restaurant. Afterwards we took a walk around the Light Festival in the centre of the city. The festival is for Matariki New Year.

Marariki is the Māori New Year has always been celebrated with the rise of the star cluster Matariki. It marks the beginning of the Aotearoa/Pacific New Year according to the lunar calendar. In 2022, the stars set on 23 Haratua / May, and rise 21 to 24 Piripi / June.

This year was the first time it has been a public holiday.