Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the final star and it’s name is connected to the promise of a prosperous season. ‘Hiwa” means vigorous growth. Maori believe this wondrous star carrys our dreams and wishes on a joyous journey through the coming year. This is a similar notion to ‘wishing upon a star’ or making a new year resolution.

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5.55pm  Opening karakia and turning-on-the-lights countdown at the Matariki waharoa main entry.

 

6pm – 9pm.  The Matariki light trail turns Maybury Reserve into a magical landscape. Enjoy light displays of Māori-inspired imagery set among thousands of fairy lights. Wrap up warm and enjoy Māori New Year celebrations in Glen Innes.

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Matariki Hakari Feast celebrates the bounty of our incredible food nation. 5pm to 9pm in Te Oro carpark and Taniwha St (Taniwha St closed to traffic 5pm - 10pm Sat 6 Jan for Night Market and viewing fireworks) - local kai chefs and bakers have prepared  hangi, boil up, paua bombs, mussell fritters, toffee apples, fresh cream eclairs and banoffe pie. Entertainment on the Te Oro Music Centre outdoor stage; kapa haka, singers & dancers.

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PAK"NSAVE Matariki Fireworks Spectacular. 9.00pm

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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN

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We advise first time car visitors to park in one of the free off- street parking sites for 500+ cars just 2-3 minute walk from Matariki Light Trail & fireworks.

290 Apirana Ave - Glen Innes shopping centre next to MacDonalds - 100 spaces

304 Apirana Ave - Opposite Mobil/KFC - 54 spaces

245a Apirana Ave - Glen Innes train station -71 spaces

44 Mayfair Place - Glen Innes Shopping Centre - 60 spaces

 182 Apirana Ave - Glen Innes Pak'nSave - 200 spaces

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Taniwha Street is closed 5pm to 10pm Sat 6 July between Line Road & Heatherbank Street. People only zone for viewing fireworks display. Bring camping chairs, blanket, dress warm.

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Not many people can say that they get to blow stuff up and get away with it.

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But that's exactly what Te Rangi Huata has been doing. For the last 24 years he's been lighting up the night sky with his firework displays.

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"What makes our fireworks a bit different is they're called pyro-musicals, a show that is done to music, so the shell fires on the beat, so by the time the beat hits it will explode in the sky."

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He's the man behind the scenes of six Matariki fireworks displays in Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and Auckland this year and says it takes a lot of work to pull a show together.

 

"It's about four to five hours of preparation for every minute of fireworks," he explains. In that time, 1200 shots launch into the night sky with a brilliant array of colour. That's around 150 shots a minute.

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To get light and shade in the show, the crowd is taken through highs and lows, much like in a drama.

"There is always a big finale at the end, sort of like an exclamation mark at the end of a sentence."

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The Glen Innes PAK”NSAVE Matariki Fireworks Spectacular will light up the night skies at 9.00pm on the final night.

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”We’re thankful to Aaron Scanes the owner of Glen Innes PAK”NSave”, said Huata. “He has come on board for three years now ffollowing on from the last owner Rob Redwood who was a wonderful sponsor of the fireworks display funding the event’s finale for 8 years.”

 

"Doing fireworks at Matariki gives it that heightened experience, with Matariki being a Maori celebration that's been revived in a modern context for all New Zealanders to enjoy."

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" Matariki is about caring for our environment and 95% of our display waste is diverted from the landfill, cardboard packing and copper wire is recycled and cardboard cases are compostable with minimal chem ical impact on the soil."

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Light, sound and air pollution from the fireworks display has minor effect on the surrounding area. The display occurs once a year for 8 minutes, causing less light pollution than street lights, less noise than thunder, and generating only 250kg of carbon emmisions less than 3 cars driven to a shopping centre.

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The cultural intent is also respectful with full support from Ruapotaka Marae and four Maori on the Matariki organising committee.

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The displays don't come cheap. "The shows we're doing cost about $10,000 per show, but because we do it ourselves we can produce a show of that value but not at that cost."

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His love affair with pyrotechnics began in 1998 when there was no one else available to put together a fireworks display for New Year's Eve in Hawke's Bay. So, he trained as a pyrotechnician in Christchurch with fireworks guru Anthony Leyland from Fireworks Professionals, enabling him to put together his own shows. He hasn't looked back, just skyward.

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