Matariki is celebrated through music at Museum of Wellington City & Sea’s Third Thursday on 19 June in Te Ao Marama. Chamber Music New Zealand comes to the Museum to present pocket pieces of chamber music that share the story of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatuanuku (the earth mother).

People will be guided on a musical journey through all three floors of the world-class Museum, with each space offering a new experience and stage of the story. A combination of talented local chamber musicians, taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) and classical instruments will explore the Maori creation story of New Zealand’s movement from darkness into light.

The event will feature improvisatory music as well as music composed by Gareth Farr, Richard Nunns, Gillian Whitehead and other NZ composers performed by some of New Zealand’s top musicians, the NZ String Quartet, Alistair Fraser, Ingrid Culliford to name a few. In the Maori creation tradition, Papauanuku (earth mother), along with Ranginui (sky father) were born in Te Po and locked in an embrace.

Many Atua grew frustrated with living in darkness and conspired to separate them by thrusting Ranginui above and Papatuanuku below. Thus the world of light, Te Ao Marama, came into being.

Speaking about the event, Head of Learning and Programmes, Rachel Ingram says, “Matariki is an important time of year to celebrate, and Te Ao Marama gives us the opportunity to explore one of our earliest stories. We’re excited to be working with Chamber Music New Zealand to present this story in an innovative way and to incorporate taonga puoro with chamber performances.”

Museum of Wellington City & Sea and Chamber Music New Zealand will be staging two performances of this 1 hour family-friendly event in the same evening at 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

No bookings are required and entry is by Koha.

Te Ao Marama is part of the Matariki Festival in Wellington. The star cluster Matariki (also known as the Pleiades) appears in the dawn sky above Aotearoa New Zealand in late May or early June.

The new moon following the rising of Matariki signals the Maori New Year.