In the Matariki star cluster, Puanga is often the brightest and easiest to spot.
Ngāti Hineaute hapū chair, Chris Whaiapu, of Rangitāne, organised the celebration in partnership with the council’s acting head of events, Luke McIndoe. It will be held along the glowing pathway, Tini whetū ki te rangi, ko Rangitāne nui ki te whenua, from 4pm to 7pm on Saturday.
There were many layers of importance to Matariki that could not be captured in one evening, Whaiapu said, but the festival was a good starting point.
“There’s going to have to be [a lot] done in a lot of sectors to get people to understand the depth of Matariki and what it acknowledges.