Matariki is a time of remembrance, reflection, and renewal — a moment in the year when we come together to honour those who have passed and to look ahead to the future.

Maumaharatanga ceremony offers a space for the Tauranga Moana community to gather in the early hours of the morning, to call the names of loved ones who have passed away, and to acknowledge them as we welcome the rising of Matariki. This shared moment of remembrance allows whānau to grieve, to reflect, and to stand together in support of one another.

This year, the ceremony carries particular significance for our community. Following the devastating landslides on Mauao and Welcome Bay in January 2026, which claimed lives and deeply impacted Tauranga Moana, this gathering becomes a space not only for personal remembrance, but for collective mourning and healing. It is a time to hold those affected in our thoughts, to acknowledge the weight of what our community has experienced, and to stand together in unity.

Matariki is a time to reset, to reconnect, and to carry forward the memories and legacies of those who have gone before us. This event is open to all. We encourage our community to come together in a spirit of aroha, kotahitanga, and maumaharatanga, as we acknowledge the past and step collectively into the year ahead.