SkyCity welcome you to join them for a range of fun, family-friendly events and activities taking place during the Matariki period this June and July. 

Pōhutukawa Star Wall: Te whakamahara i ngā mate (Remembering the dead) | June 21 - June 29, daily from midday to 5pm

Share in the stories of the 9 stars of Matariki on when you visit Sky Tower with a dedicated Matariki Star Wall. 

Cube Display: Matariki Tīrama x WHATU Creative | June 20 - July 1

Don't miss a pop up cube gallery with an incredible installation by artist Awhina Murupaenga. This will be a Tukutuku installation. Tukutuku are used particularly between carvings around the walls of meeting houses with their panels consisting of vertical stakes (traditionally made of kākaho), horizontal rods (traditionally made of stalks of bracken-fern or thin strips of tōtara wood), and flexible material of flax, kiekie and pīngao, which form the pattern. Each of the traditional patterns has a name.

Light display | June 21 

To signify the start of the Matariki activations on 21 June, the Sky Tower will light up the Tāmaki Makaurau skyline with a light display acknowledging the rising of the Matariki sky, by mimicking a sunrise in conjunction with The Breeze. 

Matariki holiday celebrations | June 24 

Celebrate Matariki, Māori new year at SkyCity with kai, kōrero, and entertainment for the whole whānau on Friday 24 June.

To signify the first time Matariki is being celebrated as a public holiday, head to the SkyCity Matariki hub from 5-7pm to learn all about the nine stars, get amongst some amazing kai, dance under the Matariki stars while enjoying Mai FM DJ’s live in the mix and go in the draw to win some awesome Matariki prizes. 

At 6pm the Sky Tower will light up the Tāmaki Makaurau skyline in partnership with The Breeze Auckland, with a 15-minute light display to iconic kiwi songs, kicking off with Pepeha by Six60. Sing-along to five tracks while watching the Sky Tower’s LED lights move to the beat.

Visitors can learn about the nine Matariki stars by walking around the Sky Tower legs and be invited to turn their loved ones into ngā whetū (stars) in the night sky by placing a sticker in remembrance on the Pōhutukawa wall within the SkyCity Atrium.

Sky Tower whānau activities | June 20 - July 8 

From 19 June – 8 July, every child visiting the Sky Tower will receive their very own Matariki activity booklet which includes how to build your own pepeha and a sheet of Matariki stickers. You’ll have the chance to colour in your very own Hiwa-i-te-rangi star and add it to the Matariki wall on the Main Observation Deck.

Matariki at SkyCity is proudly presented by SkyCity as part of Matariki Ki Te Manawa

$2 per hour to a max of $12 on weekends and a $12 flat rate for weekday evenings at The Civic car park. Find out more

Last updated: 31 May 2021