PUANGA EVENTS
Download our Events list (PDF file) — View Puanga Events Calendar
Rangahau
Join Simon Bloor from the Whanganui District Council Archives to find out what kind of resources they have available for your research.
Date: Tuesday 25 July 2pm
Venues: Alexander Library, Te Rerenga mai o te Kauru
Contact: Jasmin Ratana
Phone: (06) 349 3201
Email: jasmin@whanganuilibrary.com
Tātai Whakapapa
Our Whakapapa day this year focuses on DNA Māori. We will have a specialist zooming in and the genealogists will be on site if you need help with your family history research. If you can’t make it you can join in the zoom from home. Just let us know and we will send you the link.
Date: Saturday 22 July 10am
Venues: Alexander Library, Te Rerenga mai o te Kauru
Contact: Jasmin Ratana
Phone: (06) 349 3201
Email: jasmin@whanganuilibrary.com
Puanga Arts & Crafts
Children’s Holiday Programme - Taniwha painting
Contact: Jane Barlow
Phone: 06 349 1000
Atu I Puanga Ki Matariki
Community celebration returns to Majestic Square. Whanganui’s town centre will once again play host to a free community event marking the Matariki and Puanga season with live entertainment, fun activities and kai.
Formerly Puanga Rising, this year’s event name Atu I Puanga Ki Matariki acknowledges the importance of Puanga (also known as Rigel) to Whanganui Iwi, while recognising that other closely located iwi await the dawn rising of Matariki to celebrate the start of the Aotearoa New Year.
Atu I Puanga Ki Matariki is open to all ages and is strictly an alcohol and smoke-free event.
Mānawatia a Matariki
Nau mai, hono mai ki tēnei kaupapa a Puanga/Matariki.
Want to hold a kai stall, do some fundraising, promote your pākihi or simply hang out to celebrate with whānau then pick up a registration form from Rangahaua Marae, 97 Bell Street, between 9am-2pm, Mon-Fri. Alternatively you can apply via email at tpot@tupoho.com or call us on 0800 001 603.
This will be an awesome space to celebrate Te Ao Māori through stories, entertainment and kai. We aim to create an environment where our people can come together to reflect on and celebrate this special time of year.
This Puanga/Matariki Night Market will take place on Thursday 13th of July at Rangahaua Marae.
Ngā manaakitanga ki a koutou katoa.
Phone: 0800 001 603
Email: tpot@tupoho.com
Matariki & Puanga
Join the Waiouru community event to celebrate and learn about Matariki & Puanga.
The day will commence with a dawn ceremony on Waitangi, there will be small group activities, learn about the star cluster, and a community hakari.
Puanga Storytime
Children’s Holiday programme - Stories for children
All children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
When: 10:30am
Where: Gonville Library
Contact: Jane Barlow
Phone: 06 349 1000
Puanga Storytime
Children’s Holiday programme - Stories for children.
All children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
When: 10am
Where: Davis Library
Contact: Jane Barlow
Phone: 06 349 1000
Puanga ki Whanganui - Awa Karakia
Nau mai haere mai, ngā hāpori o Te Awa Tipua! We welcome our communities of Te Awa Tipua o Whanganui to celebrate the Māori New Year with a karakia by the awa.
Registration required: Online Registration Form
Contact: Nicole Dryden
Phone: 027 440 2481
Tahia Ko Puanga Celebration
Raetihi Marae Trust, in collaboration with Waihuia Ventures LTD and, Visit Ruapehu, invites you to celebrate Puanga on the 7th of July ✨
We will celebrate this year by having Shiro Brown hold a wānanga about Puanga, followed by a practical lesson where we will look at the stars, the marae will then launch their new Puanga lights 💡After we will have kai and launch Community Coin, which is a project that is outlined in the Ruapehu Destination Management Plan – Tahia Ko Puanga.
There will be a bouncy castle for the kids and a step class from Heleni, so make sure to bring your gym gear 👟
Come dressed in our theme colour purple 💜 to go in the draw to win a spot prize! We can’t wait to see you there!
Please RSVP to: catherine@visitruapehu.com by the 5th of July.
Puanga ki Ruapehu Rangatahi wananga
Puanga ki Ruapehu proud to announce this kaupapa for our Rangatahi.
Te Pikomata & Rangatahi Whakahoki are hosting a Rangatahi wananga during the school holidays.
Activities:
3x3 Basketball
Golf
Music
Food
Special Guest Speakers
So, register NOW Contact us on
Phone: 022 0244 678
Email: tepikomata385@gmail.com.
Limited Spaces
Puanga Waiata
Come and join us at the Davis Library every Friday at 10.30am for Mini Maestros Music Time.
This is a free music and movement session for tamariki aged 0 to 5 where we have fun singing, dancing and playing instruments.
Ages: 0 to 5 years old
When: Friday at 10:30am
Where: Davis Library
When: Friday at 10:30am
Where: Davis Library
Children’s Holiday programme - Mini Maestros
https://www.whanganuilibrary.com/index.php/whats-on/programmes/
Vintage Market
Held on the first Saturday of each month: Antiques, collectibles, retro, fashion, pottery, glass, art, craft, general stalls, hot food, baking, produce, plants, flowers, car boot & more.
Enquires: 021 943 799
Te Manu Atatū Māori Business Awards
Join us to celebrate Māori owned and operated businesses success.
This prestigious biennial event is the perfect opportunity to profile and celebrate Māori owned and operated businesses operating within Whanganui and the surrounding regions. The awards are a chance to acknowledge your team and also to network with other businesses in the rohe. This year the awards will be held on the 1st of July, also offering us the opportunity to welcome the rising star of 'Puanga' and the Māori New Year. This year's theme is Puanga so "dress to impress" is essential.
We encourage businesses, small and large to apply!
Ticket Sales, Entry Information, and Entry Form can be found on our website
Whanganui River Markets
Held every Saturday from 8:30am until 1:00pm. Whanganui River Markets incorporating both The River Traders and Whanganui Farmers Markets.
Phone: 027 229 9616
Maunga Karakia
An annual Puanga wānanga and Maunga karakia is an opportunity for our Iwi to come together to wānanga, acknowledge and celebrate our Maunga Koro Ruapehu, remember loved ones and look forward to the time ahead. RSVP required.
Host
Ngāti Rangi Office
Phone: 06 385 9500 or 0800 672 644
Email: office@ngatirangi.com
Puanga Wānanga
An annual Puanga wānanga and Maunga karakia is an opportunity for our Iwi to come together to wānanga, acknowledge and celebrate our Maunga Koro Ruapehu, remember loved ones and look forward to the time ahead. RSVP required.
Host
Ngāti Rangi Office
Phone: 06 385 9500 or 0800 672 644
Email: office@ngatirangi.com
Wānanga Whetū 3: Rāranga Whetū - Weaving Stars with Vanessa Edwards & Sietske
The final wānanga is hands-on, utilising customary rāranga practices to create star formations. There will be a discussion of Pūanga as a time of reflection, acknowledgement, and planning whilst keeping the hands busy and minds sharp.
Young and old are welcome, stay for as long as you like.
Host
Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare O Rehua Whanganui
38 Taupō Quay, Whanganui
Wānanga Whetū 2: Artist’s Kōrero with Greg Donson & Vanessa Edwards
Join a kōrero around He Tohu Tēnā Pea – It Is Perhaps a Sign. What are tohu? What tohu do we acknowledge and why? How does this affect our art practice & everyday lives? What can we learn? Nau mai.
Free entry. Bookings essential to info@sarjeant.org.nz or 06 349 0506.
Host
Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare O Rehua Whanganui
38 Taupō Quay, Whanganui
Wānanga Whetū 1: What is Pūanga?
A wānanga discussion with Marilyn Ngahuia Vreede.
Ever wonder why we here in Te Tai Hauāuru, refer to Pūanga rather than Matariki?
Go and join them for the first of three Wānanga Whetū, to discuss this very pātai. Led by Marilyn, we delve into the cosmos to spark new understandings. A relaxed and informal event. We’ll supply seats and mattresses on the floor, feel free to bring your own warm blanket.
Free entry. Bookings essential to info@sarjeant.org.nz or 06 349 0506.
Host
Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare O Rehua Whanganui
38 Taupō Quay, Whanganui
Matariki Glow Show
Little Green Man Productions is thrilled to present MATARIKI GLOW SHOW. A giant-scale puppet show for tamariki, educators and whānau.
The Glow Show’s magical glow-in-the-dark characters are getting ready to celebrate. An upbeat show that ‘edu-tains’ and engages the audience for over 50 minutes with patai (Q and A) afterwards. The shorter 11am show of 30 minutes is designed for 0-5yo.
Tickets can be purchased from the Opera House Booking Office; Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm or online https://RWOH.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/53066
Host
Royal Whanganui Opera House
69 St Hill St, Whanganui
Puanga Holiday Program
A variety of children's activities including arts and crafts, and storytime.
Programme information can be found on the Whanganui Library’s website: https://www.whanganuilibrary.com/index.php/whats-on/programmes.
Hosts
Davis Library
Pukenamu Queen’s Park, Whanganui
Gonville Library
44 Abbot Street, Gonville, Whanganui
Harkeke St Library
65 Hakeke Street, Whanganui
Contact: Jane Barlow
Email: jane@whanganuilibrary.com
Reporting Back & Huritau Art Exhibition
The Whanganui Community Arts Centre welcomes you to the opening of 2 shows; “Reporting Back” and “Huritau.”
Reporting Back - is a solo exhibition showcasing the graduate works of Raukura Waitai never before exhibited in Whanganui.
Huritau - is a group show curated by Vanessa Buerger and will include 18 local Māori artists. A space created to acknowledge and contribute to the Puanga celebrations and showcase work that has been created in the time since the last Puanga.
Exhibition is open from: 11 July - 26th July
Host
Whanganui Community Arts Centre
19 Taupo Quay, Whanganui
Cullinane College Puanga Concert
It is with great excitement to announce that Cullinane College will be celebrating Matariki/Puanga with a concert. Come along and enjoy performances from the students.
Entry fee is a koha or a gold coin and is open to all age groups.
Host
Contact: Cullinane College
Phone: 06 349 0105
Email: office@cullinane.school.nz
Puanga 2022
Maruāpō - An evening with the archives. Booking is required.
Host
Alexander Library - Te Rerenga mai o te Kāuru
Pukenamu Queens Park, Whanganui
Contact: Jasmin Ratana
Phone: 06 349 3201
Email: jasmin@whanganuilibrary.com
Website: www.wanganuilibrary.com
Puanga 2022
Whakapapa Day - Whakapapa research with Jasmin Ratana and members of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists.
Host
Alexander Library - Te Rerenga mai o te Kāuru
Pukenamu Queens Park, Whanganui
Contact: Jasmin Ratana
Phone: 06 349 3201
Email: jasmin@whanganuilibrary.com
Website: www.wanganuilibrary.com
Puanga 2022
Pauline Tahau - Te Ūkaipō - Reconnecting with the knowledge of our ancestors.
Host
Alexander Library - Te Rerenga mai o te Kāuru
Pukenamu Queens Park, Whanganui
Contact: Jasmin Ratana
Phone: 06 349 3201
Email: jasmin@whanganuilibrary.com
Website: www.wanganuilibrary.com
Bushy Park Tarapuruhi Matariki Celebration
Dale Pullen, leaseholder and your host at Bushy Park Homestead is planning their first Matariki celebration with a special lunch and live entertainment.
$95 per Adult, $65 per Child 8-12 years. Not suitable for children under 8 years old. Booking is required.
Host
Bushy Park Homestead
791 Rangitatau East Rd, RD8 Kai Iwi, Whanganui
Phone: 06 342 9879
Email: busyparkbbwanganui@gmail.com
Website: www.bushypark.nz
Matariki Culturally Guided Whanganui River Journey
A brand-new culturally guided Whanganui River package to celebrate Matariki in a very special and unique way canoeing and camping along the river. Join lead navigator Willie Huch as your local guide as you paddle down the awa learning about the cultural significance of the Whanganui River, local stories of Matariki and sing waiata.
This fantastic, all-inclusive package includes tents, kai and a free hoodie. Children 5+ and older welcome. Spaces limited so book ahead.
Host
Owhango Adventures
SH4, Owhango, Ruapehu
Phone: 0800 2 CANOE or 027 678 6461
Email: info@owhangoadventures.co.nz
Website: www.visitruapehu.com