King Charles has penned a personal message to New Zealanders marking Matariki this weekend, celebrating unity across cultures.
Written in English and te reo Māori, the monarch said it was a time for remembrance.
“E mihi ana ki Te Kāhui o Matariki,” he wrote.
“This week eyes across New Zealand will be raised to the winter skies, watching for the reappearance of Matariki, signalling Te Tau Hou Māori, the Māori New Year.
“Known by many names to peoples across the world, the Matariki star cluster reminds us that the natural world is a connecting thread that draws us together reaching across boundaries and cultures.”
The King acknowledged the inclusivity highlighted in this year’s theme, Matariki herenga waka – Matariki for everyone.
He said it “encourages all New Zealanders to come together to embrace Matariki, to learn, to share and to celebrate together”.
“As you enter this period of reflection, remembrance, connection and celebration, my wife and I send our warmest good wishes to you all,” he wrote.
The letter was signed off with the whakataukī (proverb): “Ka mahuta a Matariki i te pae, ka tukuna ō tātou tūmanako ki te tau hou – When Matariki rises above the horizon, our aspirations rise to the year ahead.”
The King has issued special bilingual Matariki messages each year since 2024.
His open letter comes as communities across the motu prepare to celebrate with events ranging from a dawn cruise in Northland, to festivals and market days in Auckland.
His message also echoes efforts around the country to make Matariki more inclusive.
This week, whānau from the Bay of Plenty released a multilingual Matariki music video featuring children performing a waiata in Tagalog, Tamil, French, Mandarin, Spanish and New Zealand Sign Language.
The project’s co-producer, Peniel Elliott, said the concept grew from a belief that “when division is loud, we make connections louder” and that Matariki offered a chance to bring communities together.
A recognised public holiday since 2022, Matariki is traditionally a time to remember those who have died, celebrate the present with whānau and friends, and to look ahead with hope for the year to come.