What is Matariki? Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars known internationally as the Pleiades. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the appearance of Matariki on the horizon just before dawn each mid-winter signals the beginning of the Māori New Year. It is one of the most significant seasonal moments in the Māori calendar,…

Winter settles naturally into Rotorua. As temperatures drop, geothermal activity becomes more visible across the region. Kohu (steam) rises steadily from the lakefront, mineral pools hold their warmth against the cold air, and the rhythm of the season begins to slow. It is a time of year that suits the landscape particularly well. Set on…