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Pop CultureJune 19, 2025

What to watch over the long Matariki weekend

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The Spinoff writers on what you should pop on your watchlist ahead of the long weekend.

Matariki mā Puanga 2025 (Whakaata Māori, TVNZ+) 

Stacey Morrison and Mātai Smith.

Cosy up with a cuppa and a warm blanket to watch the Matariki celebrations beamed straight into your living room from 5.45am Friday, June 20. The mammoth five hour broadcast begins at dawn with a traditional hautapu ceremony at Tirorangi Marae in Ohakune, with hosts Stacey Morrison (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) and Mātai Smith (Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri) inviting everyone across Aotearoa to explore the old traditions of Matariki – and create some new ones of their own. / Alex Casey

Land of the Long White Cloud (TVNZ+) 

The Land of the Long White Cloud is a fishing doco like no other

If you need an injection of Northland sand, surf and sun over the chilly weekend, not to mention some much-needed crack-up yarns, I highly recommend Florian Habicht’s 2009 documentary Land of the Long White Cloud. Centred around the annual Snapper Classic fishing contest on Ninety Mile Beach, Habicht meets the competitors vying for the whopper $50,000 prize. But this is so much more than a documentary about a fishing contest – the sometimes staggering and frequently charming musings on love, life and death will have you falling hook, line and sinker. Habicht’s equally excellent Kaikohe Demolition is also available on TVNZ+ for Matariki, plus there’s an open air screening of James and Isey happening tonight in Kawakawa, and a couple of sessions in select Auckland cinemas over the weekend. / AC

Runt (Neon) 

We stumbled across this charming and quirky Australian film last weekend, and had a delightful time watching it. Based on a book by Craig Silvey, Runt follows the lively adventures of 10-year-old Annie, who adopts a stray dog and enters him in an agility competition in the hope that the prize money will save their farm from drought and ruin. The trouble is, however, that Runt the dog gets stage fright when anyone other than Annie looks at him. With an impressive cast that includes Celeste Barber, Jai Courtney, Jack Thompson, Deborah Mailman and Matt Day, Runt is funny, heart-warming and full of sweet surprises. A wee gem for all the family. / Tara Ward

Kōkā (in cinemas) 

Following a kuia named Hamo (Hinetu Dell), who picks up a wayward 20-something Jo (Darneen Christian) on her journey up the country, Kōkā follows a meditative and intergenerational road trip that traverses everywhere from boarded-up small towns to lush green bush to dripping caves. Director Kath Ahukata-Brown told The Spinoff that the film was 20 years in the making, and is an ode to her land and her people. “I think the road movie genre shows a deeper connection to the land,” she says. “I wanted the journey to tap into the collective desire we have in Aotearoa for finding those connections between each other, and protecting our land.” / AC

Shrek: Kātahi Te Korokē (TVNZ+)

From this week’s New to Streaming: “Shrek has been dubbed into more than 40 languages, but Shrek: Kātahi Te Korokē marks the first time a DreamWorks Animation title has been adapted into an indigenous language. Hot on the heels of several te reo Māori versions of Disney’s beloved animated films, the adaptation is helmed by Tainui Stephens and stars the renowned musician and actor Maaka Pohatu as the titular gruff green ogre and Te Puaheiri Snowden as his wisecracking donkey sidekick. Experience the side-splitting, gross-out fairy tale like never before.” / Thomas Giblin

Secrets Of The Octopus (Disney+)

I loved My Octopus Teacher, but only recently recovered from its predictable but still heartbreaking ending. This series is completely mesmerising – it takes you under the sea all over the world to meet a cast of octopus who are shapeshifters, social networkers and masterminds (the three episode titles). One of the top searches related to the show is “Is Secrets Of The Octopus real footage?” It is and it’s otherworldly, like a high-def trip to outer space but you’re in the ocean. The series strikes a nice balance between informative Paul Rudd narration, storytelling by scientists, and just letting you watch these cool creatures doing their thing. I felt compelled to take up snorkelling immediately, and had buzzy dreams afterwards. / Liv Sisson 

Kaleidoscope (NZ on Screen)

If you want to see a few glimpses of good old Aotearoa in the 70s and 80s, look no further than this collection of eccentric little 90-minute documentaries. The title is fitting: all that holds it together is the “arts” – all of them. There’s profiles of artists like Francis Hodgkins and Rita Angus, a behind-the-scenes look of a film about the country’s “most controversial murder” and a handful of episodes about architecture. Other than the peep it gives us into the recent past, Kaleidoscope is charming for the way its subjects are somewhat candid and unsullied by a world where everything is content all the time. / Gabi Lardies

Under the Tuscan Sun (Disney+)

It’s the season of new beginnings. Under the Tuscan Sun is a must watch for anyone going through a breakup or anyone looking to make changes in their life. Other than the fact we all want to vicariously buy a run-down villa in Italy and do it up, the movie is littered with loveable characters and the Gay and Away tour really sends it home. Uplifting. Lovely. Funny. A movie that could be described as a ray of sunshine. / GL

Long Bright River (ThreeNow)

Everyone is going on about Dept. Q but Long Bright River over on ThreeNow is way better. If you want a crime series written well and without unnecessary subplots and a predictable ending, then go for this excellent (if not pretty grim) series about a cop in Philadelphia who is struggling to cope with her sister’s disappearance amid a spate of deaths. Amanda Seyfried is superb as troubled, solo mum who is sure that the deaths have more to do with murder than opioid overdoses. Well written, well acted, and nicely contained in a limited series. / Claire Mabey

Code of Silence (TVNZ+)

I’ve been on a crime binge recently (see above) and Code of Silence is one of the best I’ve watched. It stars Rose Ayling-Ellis who plays a Deaf woman recruited by the police to be a forensic lip reader. Ayling-Ellis (Deaf since birth) is absolutely riveting and the storyline is brilliant. For those after a good, solid crime story you can’t get much better than this. / Claire Mabey

Keep going!
matariki 2025

Pop CultureJune 19, 2025

Event noticeboard: Matariki everywhere

matariki 2025

The Spinoff’s top picks of Matariki events from around the motu.

“Cbk to get up nice and early for this !!”

It was Tuesday evening when the wheels of organisation in my friend’s brain started turning. It was chilly, but I was sweating from a particularly hard gym class, fatigued, and therefore an easy target. I did not think too much about how watching the sunrise after certain processes like parking and shuttles necessary to big gatherings, means getting up much, much earlier than the sun. What I did think, and still think, is that it’s about bloody time I did something traditional for Matariki. So far it has been much like any other long weekend. A time for rest and fun, perhaps with a dash of looking up at the stars and pondering the year ahead. A bit of spring cleaning and a visit to some artistic light installations. But never have I really seen that cluster of whetū, never have I heard the karakia, waiata and karanga as the sky lightens, and never have I seen, and smelled, a hautapu.

Tomorrow morning at 4:30am, I’ll have on my polar fleece pants, my skiing jacket and a woollen beanie. My friend will pick me up in her little silver car and then we will make our way to join about 2,000 people at Takaparawhau to farewell the past year and welcome the new. The celebration seems like a much better way to set up the year than getting inebriated. A crisp re-start on the darkest day. No matter where you are, there will be a celebration nearby, and if you’ve never been before, don’t worry, me neither. Mānawatia a Matariki!

Te Ika-a-Māui

Te Hiku

Puanga nui o te rangi

Maheatai Reserve, Taipa Point
5:30–8:30am Friday June 20 
Free

Experience the magic of hautapu, uplifting mihi and a hearty hāngī.

Hokianga

painted geometric art works
Works by Nikau Hindin

Art: Te Iringa a Tūpoto

Village Arts, 1376 Kohukohu Road, Kohukohu
10am-3pm Tuesday-Sunday until July 27

Free

A beautiful exhibition with works from many Ngai Tupoto artists including Ana Iti, Nikau Hindin, Fiona Gates and Henare Rawiri.

Waitangi

photo of carved waka

Waitangi Treaty Grounds free open day

Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi
Sunday, June 22
Free

Visit the grounds and see the two museums, Te Whare Rūnanga, the Treaty House and the traditional Māori waka.

Kawakawa

group of kids in front of burning out car

Film: Kaikohe Demolition

Atea-Town Square, 71 Gillies Street, Kawakawa
6:30pm Friday, June 20
Free

Bring a comfy cushion and blanket to watch this incredible documentary from 2004.

Whangārei

Alein weaponry film poster

Film: Alien Weaponry, Kua Tupu Te Ara

Forum North, 7 Rust Avenue, Whangārei
6pm & 8pm Thursday, June 19
$10-$15

Whangarei Film Society presents a screening of the film documenting the band’s journey from its formation in 2010 by Waipū brothers Henry and Lewis De Jong.

Tāmaki Makaurau

people gathered in darkness around a umu kohukohu whetū
Hautapu ceremony at Takaparawhau in 2023.

Hautapu ki Takaparawhau

Takaparawhau, Bastion Point. Park at Grammar Tec fields carpark, 27 Reihana Street, Ōrākei
5:30am Paraire 20 Hune
Free

This public cultural ceremony will be led by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and will include karakia, karanga, waiata, watching the sunrise and a hautapu – a ceremony consisting of a traditional earth oven (umu kohukohu whetū) and offering to the stars.

drawings of sea creatures
Illustrations by Ezra Whittaker

Animation, installation: Dive into the Magic of Te Waihorotiu

St Kevins Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road, CBD, Auckland
4-10pm Friday, June 20
Free

All of Karangahape Road is coming alive this weekend, but our pick of the bunch is a projected animation by Tāmaki-based illustrator Ezra Whittaker. Lay down and watch a story about a stream that once ran down the Queen Street gully

Marlon Williams. (Photo Steven Marr).

Music: Marlon Williams, Te Whare Tiiwekaweka Tour

Spark Arena, 42/80 Mahuhu Crescent, Parnell, Auckland
7pm Saturday, Jun 21
$89-$130 

Our angel Marlon will be joined by The Yarra Benders, KOMMI and the Melbourne based kapa haka rōpū Ngā Mātai Pūrua.

Kirikiriroa

Kapa haka group with neon lights
Kapa haka group at Maanawatia a Matariki in 2023.

Festival: Maanawatia a Matariki

Innes Common, Hamilton 3204
3-7pm Friday, June 20
Free

“Wrap up warm, rally your whaanau and friends together, and enjoy a night of rekareka (fun) and entertainment.”

Hawke’s Bay

blue digital bubble son a black background

Art: Waipuna-ā-rangi, A Starlit Journey

– Masonic Park, 59 The Strand, Tauranga CBD
– Te Papa o ngā Manu Porotakataka, 137 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
– Western Bay Museum, 32 Main Road, Katikati
– Te Kete Matariki, Jubilee Park, Te Puke

Anytime until Sunday, June 23
Free

View 10 digital sculptures by contemporary Māori artists through your smartphone, each at a point along a trail.

Rotorua

Matariki Glow Show

Matariki Glow Show

Sir Howard Morrison Centre, 1170 Fenton St, Rotorua
10am Sunday, June 22
$10

“The Glow Show tells the story of te kāhui whetū o Matariki (the star cluster/whānau of Matariki) as they gather to light up the skies for te tau hou Māori (Māori New Year). But where is the smallest star, Waipuna-a-rangi? Could the little one be lost in the moana?”

Ngāmotu

photo of big inflatable shiny rainbows
Elysian Arcs by artist collective Atelier Sisu

TSB Festival of Lights Winter Pop-Up

Huatoki Plaza, Puke Ariki Landing, Ariki Street, the Coastal Walkway, New Plymouth CBD
5-10pm June 19-22
Free

12 BIG FUN COLOURFUL BUZZY installations across town.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara

graphic with stars saying matariki at the museum

Workshop: Pōhutukawa Memory Bracelets

Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum, 3 Jervois Quay, Wellington Central
10am–12pm Saturdays in June
Free

Create a braided bracelet to honour the memory of a loved one and learn about the story of Pōhutukawa, the star that helps guide spirits onwards during Matariki.

woman holding a baby
Still from Ka Puna Te Wai, Ko Te Kāwai Puna by Rachael Rakena (Kāi Tahu, Ngā Puhi).

Film: Mana Moana Pōneke

Whairepo Lagoon, Wellington
6pm-9pm daily, June 19-22
Free

A series of indigenous short films in a 40 minute loop will be projected onto a water screen made of thousands of water droplets.

Te Waipounamu

Marlborough

photo of a sunrise

Ceremony: Rangitāne Annual Matariki Gathering

Wairau Bar, Wairau Bar Rd, Blenheim
5:30am Friday, June 20

Free

“Although it may be a chilly start to the day, we will warm up with a cooked breakfast and a warm cuppa. Ngā mihi nui o te Tau Hou Māori e te iwi.”

Ōtautahi

Dance: Pepe

Cloisters Studio, ground floor in the former School of Engineering heritage building, The Arts Centre, 2 Worcester Boulevard
10am-9.30pm June 19-22
Free

A performance channeling Hineraukatauri,  atua of traditional musical instruments and kaitiaki of all flutes or kōauau from the taonga pūoro family.

Tāhuna

The Harmonic Resonators

Festival: Matariki with Mana Tāhuna

Queenstown Memorial Centre, 1 Memorial Street Queenstown
5:30pm Thursday, 19 June
$65

The Harmonic Resonators, famous for their heart-warming renditions of Waiata Māori and after-party classics, will sort the tunes and hāngī will be available.

Ōtepoti

A whare and stars in little lights very cute

Matariki mā Puaka

Logan Park, Dunedin North
6pm and 8:30pm Saturday, June 21
Free

I would not usually recommend anything to do with drones, but this drone light show seems like its going to be really cute. If it’s not there are other things on too – fire performers, magical fairies and kapa haka.

Ceremony: Matariki Ahuka Nui

Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin
6:45am Friday, June 20
Free

The ceremony will include a whakamaumahara to remember those who have passed away. You are invited to bring a printed photo of a passed loved one and to speak their name aloud in remembrance.

Gore

people in a park at night with many lights

Kāhui Whetū

Gore Public Gardens, 28 Ardwick St, Gore
5pm Friday, June 19
Free

Light displays throughout the gardens, glow fairies, a princess, a fire performer, free neon face painting and lots of food trucks!