Weather: Sunshine follows cold night, wet weather ahead for Matariki weekend
A frigid start is being rewarded with sunshine across much of the country today, before the wet weather returns for many on the eve of the Matariki long weekend.
Clear skies meant a brisk start across both islands, with Mt Cook Airfield a bone-chilling -11.5C this morning.
'Although that's not
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Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
What you need to know about the Matariki holiday
Matariki celebrates the Māori New Year and is a time for people to gather, honour the dead, celebrate the present and make plans for the future. This year, the public holiday falls on Friday, June 20. It became an official public holiday only in 2022, but it's already become one of our most meaningful days and the first holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori. It was the first new public holiday since Waitangi Day became a public holiday in 1974. The date of Matariki changes from year to year, but it will always fall in June or July. There will be plenty of Matariki events throughout Friday and the weekend, and RNZ will be featuring coverage throughout. Do I have to work? It's a non-working day just like any other public holiday - which means if you are asked to work on the day (as regularly rostered), you're entitled to time-and-a-half pay and an alternative day off. What's open? Trading restrictions don't apply to Matariki in the way they do on Easter holidays, Christmas or the first half of Anzac Day. Shops, restaurants, cafes and other businesses can be open as usual, but they can close if they wish - so it pays to check opening hours beforehand. Will there be surcharges? Hospitality businesses can add a 15 percent surcharge to their services to cover the costs of paying employees time and a-half. If a business does charge a surcharge, they must have clear signage communicating this to the customer. Customers can complain to the Commerce Commission if they feel they have been misled about surcharges. What is Matariki all about? Matariki is the name of a star cluster in the constellation of Taurus, commonly known as Pleiades. In mid-winter, the stars rise and herald in Te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year. The word 'Matariki' is an abbreviation of 'Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea' or 'the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea'. Matariki was taken as a wife by Rehua and she gave birth to eight children, each star having a unique purpose and defined role in Te Ao Māori. Traditionally falling at the end of the harvest, the cluster's rise marked a time of abundant food and feasting. Today, people across Aotearoa gather to celebrate the day with plenty of kai, stargazing, and community gathering. Why does the holiday date change each year? Matariki public holiday is observed on different dates each year. This is because Māori follow an environmental calendar system that considers the sun, the moon, various stars, and other ecological indicators to determine time. The Matariki public holiday dates fall on the closest Friday to the Tangaroa lunar period during the lunar month of Pipiri. Tangaroa is not a single phase of the moon but rather the last quarter period of the lunar calendar. Because of this, the dates to celebrate Matariki will differ from year to year. Future public holiday dates In 2022, the Matariki Advisory Committee set out the Matariki public holiday dates for the next 30 years. 2025 - 20 June 2026 - 10 July 2027 - 25 June 2028 - 14 July 2029 - 6 July 2030 - 21 June 2031- 11 July 2032 - 2 July 2033 - 24 June 2034 - 7 July 2035 - 29 June 2036 - 18 July 2037 - 10 July 2038 - 25 June 2039 - 15 July 2040 - 6 July 2041 - 19 July 2042 - 11 July 2043 - 3 July 2044 - 24 June 2045 - 7 July 2046 - 29 June 2047 - 19 July 2048 - 3 July 2049 - 25 June 2050 - 15 July 2051 - 30 June 2052 - 21 June
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
No Changes To Kerbside Collections Over Matariki
Hamiltonians can put their bins out on their usual collection day by 7am, as there are no changes to kerbside rubbish and recycling collections over the Matariki long weekend (Friday 20 June). Hamilton City Council's Head of Resource Recovery, Sarah Wilson, said last month Hamiltonians saved 387,000kg of food scraps and 236,000kg of glass from landfill. 'We have a great tool on our website that tells you which bin an item belongs in. It's handy for those tricky items you're not sure about,' said Wilson. Hamiltonians can now further reduce their waste going to landfill by recycling plastic and metal caps and lids at two local supermarkets: New World Te Rapa and PAK'nSAVE Mill Street. Caps are unable to be recycled through kerbside recycling because they are too difficult to sort (due to them being small and light). Across the country, the kerbside collection of materials has been standardised since 1 February 2024. 'We're excited this new initiative has come to Hamilton Kirikiriroa, giving Hamiltonians the opportunity to recycle a common household item at a convenient location'. The initiative is part of the nationwide Caps & Lids Recycling Scheme which is an industry-funded programme operated by The Packaging Forum. For those looking to reuse, recycle, or dispose on Friday 20 June, below are the facility operating hours: Habitat for Humanity ReUse store: 9am – 4pm Hamilton Organics Centre: 8am – 5pm
Otago Daily Times
3 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Matariki public holiday: What you need to know
Matariki celebrates the Māori New Year and is a time for people to gather, honour the dead, celebrate the present and make plans for the future. This year, the public holiday falls on Friday, June 20. It became an official public holiday only in 2022, but it's already become one of our most meaningful days and the first holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori. It was the first new public holiday since Waitangi Day became a public holiday in 1974. The date of Matariki changes from year to year, but it will always fall in June or July. There will be plenty of Matariki events throughout Friday and the weekend, and RNZ will be featuring coverage throughout. Do I have to work? It's a non-working day just like any other public holiday - which means if you are asked to work on the day (as regularly rostered), you're entitled to time-and-a-half pay and an alternative day off. What's open? Trading restrictions don't apply to Matariki in the way they do on Easter holidays, Christmas or the first half of Anzac Day. Shops, restaurants, cafes and other businesses can be open as usual, but they can close if they wish - so it pays to check opening hours beforehand. Will there be surcharges? Hospitality businesses can add a 15 percent surcharge to their services to cover the costs of paying employees time and a-half. If a business does charge a surcharge, they must have clear signage communicating this to the customer. Customers can complain to the Commerce Commission if they feel they have been misled about surcharges. What is Matariki all about? Matariki is the name of a star cluster in the constellation of Taurus, commonly known as Pleiades. In mid-winter, the stars rise and herald in Te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year. The word 'Matariki' is an abbreviation of 'Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea' or 'the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea'. Matariki was taken as a wife by Rehua and she gave birth to eight children, each star having a unique purpose and defined role in Te Ao Māori. Traditionally falling at the end of the harvest, the cluster's rise marked a time of abundant food and feasting. Today, people across Aotearoa gather to celebrate the day with plenty of kai, stargazing, and community gathering. Why does the holiday date change each year? Matariki public holiday is observed on different dates each year. This is because Māori follow an environmental calendar system that considers the sun, the moon, various stars, and other ecological indicators to determine time. The Matariki public holiday dates fall on the closest Friday to the Tangaroa lunar period during the lunar month of Pipiri. Tangaroa is not a single phase of the moon but rather the last quarter period of the lunar calendar. Because of this, the dates to celebrate Matariki will differ from year to year. Future public holiday dates In 2022, the Matariki Advisory Committee set out the Matariki public holiday dates for the next 30 years. 2025 - 20 June 2026 - 10 July 2027 - 25 June 2028 - 14 July 2029 - 6 July 2030 - 21 June 2031- 11 July 2032 - 2 July 2033 - 24 June 2034 - 7 July 2035 - 29 June 2036 - 18 July 2037 - 10 July 2038 - 25 June 2039 - 15 July 2040 - 6 July 2041 - 19 July 2042 - 11 July 2043 - 3 July 2044 - 24 June 2045 - 7 July 2046 - 29 June 2047 - 19 July 2048 - 3 July 2049 - 25 June 2050 - 15 July 2051 - 30 June 2052 - 21 June
