Short answer: Matariki marks the Māori New Year, when the Matariki star cluster rises before dawn in midwinter. Since 2022 it has been a public holiday, always on a Friday, with a date that changes each year: 25 June in 2027 and 14 July in 2028. The long weekend adds domestic demand, so plan winter groups around it.
Matariki is New Zealand's newest public holiday and its first to recognise a Māori tradition. For clients it is a chance to understand something about Aotearoa that is not on the usual itinerary. For agents it is also a date that moves every year and creates a busy winter long weekend.
What Matariki is
Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster known elsewhere as the Pleiades. Its rising in the early morning sky during midwinter marks the start of the Māori New Year. Traditionally it was a time to remember those who had died in the past year, to celebrate the present, and to look ahead to the new year.
Practices differ between iwi and regions. Some iwi mark the new year by a different star, Puanga, which is easier to see where they live. Clients should hear that Matariki is a living tradition with local variation, not a single fixed ceremony.
Why the date moves
The holiday follows the Māori lunar calendar, so it falls on a different Friday each year. The dates are set in advance. According to Te Papa:
- 2026: Friday 10 July
- 2027: Friday 25 June
- 2028: Friday 14 July
Because it is always a Friday, it creates a three-day weekend for New Zealanders.
What it means for your groups
Matariki weekend falls in the ski season and, in some years, near the school holidays. Expect:
- Higher domestic demand in ski towns such as Queenstown and Wānaka, and in short-break destinations. See our notes on Queenstown across four seasons.
- Busier domestic flights and rental vehicles on the Thursday and the Monday.
- Some businesses closed or with holiday hours on the Friday, and public-holiday surcharges at some restaurants and suppliers. We confirm supplier terms at quotation.
For a winter group, we check the Matariki date before fixing any programme for late June or July, and hold rooms early in the ski towns if the group overlaps the weekend.
Experiencing Matariki with clients
Events around Matariki are held across the country, often over several weeks rather than one day. They are organised locally, and the programme changes each year, so we check what is on for the specific dates.
Matariki is a good moment to include a Māori cultural experience delivered by a Māori-owned or iwi-led operator. Our guide to selling Māori cultural experiences respectfully explains how to frame it: clients take part as guests, under the operator's tikanga, and the experience is not a show.
Winter skies in New Zealand are long and dark, so a stargazing evening also fits. Our notes on the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve cover where to go.
What to brief your client on
- Matariki is a public holiday. Some shops and attractions close or change their hours on the Friday.
- It is midwinter. Pack warm layers, especially for the South Island and for early mornings.
- If clients attend an event, they are guests. Follow the hosts' guidance on photos and protocol.
How Explera DMC New Zealand can help
We plan winter programmes for group tours and FIT clients, with ski and snow, Māori cultural experiences and coach and private transfers. Our seasons page covers the winter months.
FAQ
What is Matariki? The Māori New Year, marked by the rising of the Matariki star cluster before dawn in midwinter. It has been a public holiday since 2022.
When is the Matariki public holiday in 2027? Friday 25 June 2027. In 2028 it falls on Friday 14 July.
Does Matariki affect group bookings? Yes. It creates a three-day winter weekend with higher domestic demand, especially in ski towns, so we hold rooms early when a group overlaps it.
Can clients take part in Matariki events? Events are held across the country and change each year. We check what is on for the dates and book through Māori-owned or iwi-led operators where possible.
Talk to the trade desk
Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal b2b.expleradmc.com.
