Pūanga – Matariki 2026: Te Waka o Rangi

About the Exhibition

Pūanga–Matariki explores the rich kōrero shared across the Pacific Rim about our celestial whānau and the many ways different cultures understand these majestic stars. Though our stories vary, they all remind us of the same truth: the heavens hold the memories of our past, the lessons of our present, and the hopes we carry into the future.

This exhibition honours those who have passed, acknowledging the wisdom they leave behind and the responsibility we hold to carry their teachings forward. By looking to Pūanga, Matariki, and the wider cosmos, we are reminded of our deep relationship with the natural world. The guidance of our ancestors’ shapes how we walk upon the earth, how we care for our environment, and how we nurture the generations yet to come.