Thursday 21 June - Saturday 21 July
Auckland Libraries is celebrating
Matariki, the Māori New Year, with a range of fantastic free events.
At libraries across Auckland, there’ll be a chance to hear special Matariki Storytimes, turn your hand to skills such as carving, weaving and poi making, play games and learn more about your whakapapa.
Find out what is happening at other Auckland libraries during Matariki.
Find an event at a library near you:
Botany Library
Highland Park Library
Howick Library
Māngere Bridge Library
Māngere East Library
Māngere Town Centre Library
Manukau Library
Manurewa Library
Otara Library
Pakuranga Library
Papatoetoe Library
Te Matariki Clendon Library
Tupu Youth Library
Botany Library
Monday 25 June, 10:30am: Te Reo-English Matariki Storytime
Tuesday 3 July, 11am - 12pm: Flax weaving -- A special guest will talk about the plant used for weaving and demonstrate how to make flowers, bookmarks and more.
Thursday 12 July, 11am - 12pm: Poi making -- Learn how to make a poi.
Thursday 21 June - Saturday 21 July: Message cloak -- Celebrate Matariki with us by writing a message to be placed on our Matariki cloak.
Highland Park Library
Wednesday 27 June, 4pm - 5pm: Matariki kaleidoscopes - create a constellation -- Kewl Club Kids will be making kaleidoscopes for Matariki - join them!
Friday 29 June, 10.30am - 11.15am: Matariki Storytime -- Songs and stories to celebrate Matariki. For preschoolers.
Howick Library
Friday 22 June, 10.30am - 11.30am: Online Māori Resources Workshop -- Join staff member Raewyn Paewai to discover the Māori resources available to you online.
Monday 25 June, 11am - 12pm: Weaving -- With Millie Duchar
Friday 29 June, 10.30am - 11.30am: A Hangi Storytime -- With Whaea Taini Drummond. For preschoolers.
Thursday 12 July, 6.30pm - 7.30pm: Māori Medicine and Māori Traditional Music Instrument Workshop -- Ngaronoa
Monday 16 July, 10.30am - 11.30am: A Mask Storytime -- With Whaea Taini Drummond. For preschoolers.
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Māngere Bridge Library
Friday 22 June, 10.30am: Matariki Sing a long
Friday 29 June, 10.30am: Matariki Sing a long
Wednesday 4 July, 2pm - 3pm: School Holiday programme
Friday 6 July: Matariki Childrens Book Club event
Saturday 7 July, 1.30pm - 3pm: The Block (LEGO) Party
Monday 9 July, 10.30am - 12pm: School Holiday programme
Friday 20 July, 10.30am: Matariki Sing a long
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Māngere East Library
Wednesday 27 June, 10am - 10.30am: Stars and stories Matariki Storytime -- Bring your little ones along for a Matariki Storytime and singalong! For preschoolers.
Thursday 5 July, 6pm - 7.30pm: Can you find Matariki stars? -- Come along to find out about the Matariki stars, plus how & where to find them. Learn about some other constellations too including the Southern Cross and Scorpius. Includes a viewing of the real night sky weather permitting.
Wednesday 11 July, 2pm - 3pm: Wonderful Weaving -- Hey kids! Come on down to have a go at harakeke weaving! Bookings are essential. Please phone (09) 275-5420.
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Māngere Town Centre Library
Thursday 21 June, 10.30am - 11.30am: Nga Whetu o Matariki Storytime -- Join us for songs and stories to celebrate Matariki.
Thursday 28 June, 6pm - 7pm: Kapahaka Performance -- Experience Kapahaka at its finest with a performance from Kedgley Intermediate school Kapahaka group.
Friday 29 June, 10.30am: Whakapapa Workshop -- Come along and learn how to find the best resources to help your Family History research with staff member Raewyn Paewai.
Friday 6 July, 10.30am: Māori Arts and Crafts - Poi Making -- Learn how to make and use Poi. All materials provided, just show up!
Friday 13 July, 10.30am: Māori Arts and Crafts - Kite Making -- Make your own Manu Aute Māori Kite using traditional materials and techniques.
Thursday 19 July, 10.30am: Nga Whetu o Matariki Storytime -- Join us for songs and stories to celebrate Matariki.
Friday 20 July, 10.30am: Nga Whetu o Matariki Storytime -- Join us for songs and stories to celebrate Matariki.
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Manukau Library
Wednesday 27 June, 11am -12pm: Matariki Storytime -- Join us for Matariki stories and waiata then make your very own star mobile.
Wednesday 4 July, 11am -12pm: Matariki Stargazers -- Come learn about the importance of star constellations, make your very own star wheel then try it out on the night sky.
Thursday 5 July, 10am: Matariki Book Bites -- Meet Mereana Taungapeau, Heritage Programme Adviser for the Māori collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library. Mereana will speak about the collections, how the library preserves and makes accessible words, pictures and sounds that tell us about the history and cultures of the people of New Zealand and the Pacific.
Wednesday 11 July, 11am - 12pm: Matariki Garden Designs -- Matariki is time to plan your gardens for the next year. Come design a garden using tradition medicinal and food plants.
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Manurewa Library
Thursday 21 June, 2pm - 3pm: Scavenger Hunt
Wednesday 27 June, 10am - 11am: Mahi Whariki (Mat weaving)
Friday 29 June, 10am - 11am: Mahi tukutuku
Friday 20 July, 10.30am - 12pm: Te Reo Wainene o tua (The Sweet Story of Yester-Year) -- Join us for a "story-telling" kaupapa experience in te reo. Update: our apologies, 'Te Reo Wainene o tua' has been cancelled.
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Otara Library
Wednesday 27 June, 11am -12pm: Storytime for Ngā Kohanga Reo o Otara kei roto i Te Reo Māori -- Join in stories and songs to celebrate Toi Oho Matariki.
Thursday 28 June 2012, 10am - 10.30am: Matariki Storytime -- Join in stories and songs to celebrate Matariki. For pre-schoolers.
Monday 2 July, 1pm - 2pm: Create a Korowai Montage -- Decorate colorful Matariki Korowai.
Wednesday 4 July, 1pm - 2pm: Kei hia te mea ... Scavenger Hunt -- Use your creative powers to find the hidden clues.
Monday 9 July, 1pm - 2pm: Ngā Tākaro - Holiday Hand Games -- Come and play Māori hand games.
Wednesday 11 July, 1pm - 2pm: Tīpare Weaving -- Create your own personal Tīpare.
Tuesday 17 July, 1pm - 2pm: Wriggle & Rhyme for Matariki -- Join our special Matariki Wriggle & Rhyme programme.
Wednesday 18 July, 1pm - 2pm: Matariki Storytime -- A special Matariki Storytime. For pre-schoolers.
Thursday 19 July, 1pm - 2pm: Te Tī o Te Ata - Morning Tea for the Community -- Closing celebration of Matariki 2012.
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Pakuranga Library
Wednesday 27 June, 10.15am: Discover Matariki -- Bring your little "whetu" (stars) along to listen to Whaea Taini. Discover Matariki in a new way.
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Papatoetoe Library
Thursday 21 June, 10.30am - 11am: Little Matariki Singalong Storytime -- Let’s fly our kites high with Pukunui!
Wednesday 27 June, 3.30pm - 4.30pm: Pukunui the Astronaut -- Flying high. Can you catch it?
Wednesday 4 July, 3.30pm - 4.30pm: Matariki Fun -- Puzzling Games: Take up the challenge!!
Thursday 5 July, 10.30am - 11am: Little Matariki Singalong Storytime -- Did Rawiri find treasures from the forest?
Wednesday 11 July, 3.30pm - 4.30pm: Magic of the Forest -- Design and weave you very own treasure of the forest!
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Te Matariki Clendon Library
Thursday 21 June - Thursday 19 July: Artworks by Ali Cowley -- A display of artworks created by local Manurewa artist Ali Cowley.
Wednesday 27 June, 11am: Digital Resources at the Alexander Turnbull Library -- Mereana Taungapeau from the Alexander Turnbull Library takes us on a tour of the online resources available for Whakapapa research.
Monday 2 July, 10am: Matariki Storytime -- Bilingual Storytime in English and Māori, with a children's Korowai creation activity.
Monday 9 July, 10am: Matariki Storytime -- Bilingual Storytime in English and Māori, with a children's Korowai creation activity
Thursday 19 July, 4pm -- Matariki Scavenger Hunt
Wednesday 25 July, 3.30pm: Korowai art project -- Contribute to the creation of Tane's Korowai to represent Te Matariki Clendon Community Centre and Library.
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Tupu Youth Library
Thursday 21 June, 10.30am - 11am: Starry Matariki Storytime -- Bring your tamariki down to participate in an interactive Matariki Storytime.
Thursday 21 June, 3.30pm - 4.30pm: Star Fried Bread -- Help Ruiha cut out the fried-bread dough into stars. There will be jam and butter and eating involved.
Friday 22 June, 11am - 1pm: Kite-making -- Join Ruiha in making a manu taratahi. Materials are provided. Free.
Thursday 28 June, 11am - 1pm: Flax Weaving -- Tamariki and whanau are welcome to join Ruiha in making some simple creations from flax. Materials are provided. Free.
Thursday 28 June, 3.30pm - 4.30pm: Family Tree Activity for kids -- Bring the first and last names of your parents, maternal grandparents and paternal grandparents (bring pictures if you like) so we can create a beautiful family tree. Materials are provided. Free.
Thursday 5 July, 10am - 12pm: Flax Weaving -- Tamariki and whanau are welcome to join Ruiha in making some simple creations from flax. Materials are provided. Free.
Thursday 12 July, 10am - 12pm: Rock Painting -- Paint a river rock for a special someone or just do it for fun! Materials are provided.
Friday 20 July, 3pm - 6pm: Te Tau Hou: Matariki Event -- Come and celebrate Matariki. There will be face-painting, an Amazing Race, prizes and entertainment.
Friday 20 July, 2pm: Living Book with Dr. Pita Sharples -- Have you ever wanted to ask Dr. Pita Sharples something? Come and listen to the inspirational Dr. Pita Sharples share stories of his life and success, and ask that question!
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