WATCH: Aotearoa’s newest public holiday means more than just a long weekend. Witness how creatives play a crucial part in making Matariki a true celebration of New Zealand’s many cultures in a uniquely New Zealand way.
This video is made with the support of NZ on Air Public Interest Journalism Fund.
The way Aotearoa has embraced Matariki over the last few years has been nothing short of incredible.
And it's fast becoming a cornerstone of the cultural and creative calendar.
From Kapa Haka to drag performances, from groundbreaking digital art initiatives to hand-made arts and crafts - artists of all genres have taken to stages, shores, store-fronts, galleries and stalls acoss the motu.
The Big Idea hit the streets for Matariki to see how creatives are enriching the experience for New Zealanders, and finding out the impact their mahi is having on those who attended events around Pōneke (Wellington) and Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).