As Aotearoa prepares to mark its first Matariki long weekend, tourism operators are hopeful it's a sign of more prosperity to come.
Matariki star cluster Photo: Unsplash / Anders Drange
This year, a new multi-day festival is being launched in the Mackenzie region, aiming to draw visitors to the hard hit district and celebrate Māori New Year.
It was one of two Matariki festivals to receive government backing with hopes they would become internationally significant in time.
Matariki remained a time for celebration, remembrance, growth and renewal.
Kāi tahu astronomer Victoria Campbell said all New Zealanders could benefit from and engage with Matariki.
"This is a really important time in our history where Māori, where iwi are being recognised for our matauranga - our knowledge - and our value systems and practices associated with that knowledge."
It has been two, long, hard years without international tourists, but the Mackenzie region was optimistic about its future as it prepared to launch Matariki Mackenzie this Friday.
The festival received $100,000 from the government to develop the event and its governance structure, and it could be eligible for more in future years.
Victoria Campbell was the festival's cultural director, and said it would offer an array of talent, wisdom, arts, kai, and star gazing in the international dark sky reserve.
She had a simple vision for all people who attend the festival now and into the future.
"That they will feel the manaakitanga - the hospitality - and the warmth of not only the people, but all of the businesses that will be hosting them for that weekend and that's something that the Mackenzie region and mana whenua will be very proud of."
Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat has been hosting Matariki events for the past few years.
Its owner Kaye Paardekooper said this year included a sold-out degustation inspired by the stars.
She was pleased to see Matariki in the spotlight.
"I'm hoping that it will give the local people within the area a deeper sense of identity within the Māori world and connections with differing perspectives on the stars and the dark sky."
She wanted tourism operators to help to share Matariki with their guests.
"We already offer manaakitanga - warm welcome - and that's part of the Kiwi culture so I'm hoping that Matariki will add to that and be of benefit to everybody.
Feast Matariki kicked off in 2019, hosting events across the country, with a vision to connect people with the land and ocean through kai.
It received $75,000 from the government with more potentially on the cards in the future.
This year, the festival was collaborating with Ngāi Tahu to ensure mana whenua lead how they celebrated kai during the new year.
Eat New Zealand chief executive Angela Clifford said it was exciting to hold events in person and celebrate culture through kai.
"It's a wonderful and approachable way to introduce people to other ideas or other world views.
"So it's not just us as a country, but also visitors from overseas as our borders open up, it's an opportunity to find a regenerative, slow, small, connected way to show them who we are as a people and place."
New Zealand Māori Tourism chairperson Dale Stephens said there were plenty of future opportunities for businesses to create events to mark Matariki and bring people together.
"To become a public holiday and a long weekend gives the opportunity for more committed celebration of what this means to be New Zealanders, about looking after each other, providing food and shelter for our people on an annual basis, and that's what Matariki is about - bringing whanau together."
Victoria Young said anyone wanting to see Matariki could set their alarm for about 6.30am on Friday and pop outside to spot the star cluster in the east.