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Matariki is New Zealand's newest public holiday, first observed in June 2022, and marks the Māori New Year as signalled by the rise of the Matariki star cluster (the Pleiades) on the horizon at dawn. The exact date shifts each year, determined by a lunar and stellar calendar, and is announced in advance by the Māori Advisory Committee. It is a statutory public holiday observed nationwide and is unique to New Zealand — the only country in the world with a public holiday specifically for an indigenous astronomical event.

• ✦Traditional Matariki observances include early morning star-gazing events, wānanga (educational gatherings), the planting of trees, the remembrance of those who have passed since the previous Matariki, and the celebration of the harvest.
• ✦Across New Zealand, iwi (tribal groups), schools, museums, and local councils host public events including kapa haka performances, art exhibitions, lantern festivals, and community feasts (hākari) that are open to all New Zealanders.