One of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s most loved Matariki celebrations is returning this winter.
On Thursday, July 9th, Karangahape Road will once again become a pathway of light, music, art, and storytelling as Te Karanga-a-Hape takes over the city centre. Running from dawn until late evening, the free event invites people to gather, reflect, and mark the Māori New Year together.
This year’s programme brings together artists from across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. Ladi6, MĀ, WAIWHAI, and Halfqueen will perform across the evening, with more acts still to be announced.
For Creative Director Nayesha Waiti-Mulholland, the event centres on connection rather than spectacle.
“Te Karanga-a-Hape is about creating spaces where people can connect with the stars of Matariki in a way that feels nourishing for them,” she says.
“All across the world, especially the Pacific, this cluster is honoured and celebrated. We hope people leave feeling inspired and engaged in their communities with Karanga-a-Hape Road.”
The music programme reflects that whakaaro.
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Fresh from releasing Le Vā, Ladi6 arrives with one of the most celebrated Kiwi albums of the past year. The record landed at No. 16 on our Best New Zealand Albums of 2025 list, with the artist describing the record as “the space between – between life and death, between who I was and who I’m becoming.”
Joining her is MĀ, whose album Blame It on the Weather earned Best Alternative Artist at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards. Ranked No. 31 in our Rolling Stone AU/NZ Best New Zealand Albums of 2025 list, the record moves between te reo Māori and English while exploring climate change, environmental protection, and everyday life.
The lineup also features Noa Records founder WAIWHAI. The artist has become known her bringing together taonga puoro, experimental composition, groove music, and improvisation. Their work often sits between tradition and experimentation, drawing on both ancestral knowledge and contemporary sound.
Halfqueen, meanwhile, will bring their genre-crossing club sets to the celebrations. Drawing on their Fijian and Pākehā whakapapa, the Tāmaki Makaurau DJ has built a reputation for connecting audiences through global club sounds and Pacific influences.
Beyond the music, Te Karanga-a-Hape will feature whetū activations, storytelling experiences, public art installations, food offerings, and community events spread across the length of Karangahape Road. A map will guide visitors through each whetū and its place within the Matariki cluster.
More than a festival, Te Karanga-a-Hape continues to offer a space for reflection, remembrance, and connection at the beginning of the Māori New Year.
Te Karanga-a-Hape – Matariki 2026
Thursday, July 9th (6:30am-10pm)
Karangahape Road, Tāmaki Makaurau
More information available here
Lineup
MĀ together with her band
Ladi6
Noa Records presents: WAIWHAI
Halfqueen
+ more artists to be announced
