Puanga Kei Runga

A contemporary and traditional Indigenous art exhibition to honour the diversity of our knowledge systems.

Ko Matariki e tiaho iho nei, ko Puanga kei runga

Puanga, known by many as Rigel or Orion of Orion’s Belt, is the kaupapa and star constellation we honour this Matariki. We encourage our nation to pay attention to the nuances of Te Ao Māori and our vast knowledge systems. Our beautiful world of Te Tātai Arorangi gradually opens up to us, presenting precious gems of māramatanga as both a feast and treasure.

While many iwi observe the rising of Matariki to signal the new year there are those who look to the appearance of Puanga, especially iwi located along the West Coast of the North and South Island where Matariki is hard to see. The most practiced traditions of Puanga are the same, coming together to remember those who have made their journey to the stars and feasting on traditional kai in celebration of the past, present and future.

Our environment shapes our culture on a mass scale but also on the micro, bringing to light the subtleties in character from iwi to iwi, person to person. While we are all living under the same canopy of stars which have helped us navigate vast oceans, communicating the changing seasons and more, what we behold is dependent on where we have situated ourselves respectively across Aotearoa.

This is a time of the year to learn, embrace and honour these observations by feasting and celebrating the abundance that is provided by our atua Māori, guided by Puanga.
Ringatoi from around the motu and beyond our oceans have been invited to shine in the light of the most radiant star constellation the naked eye can see, tis Puanga!

‘Puanga Kai Rau, tini mahara ki te pō,
Puanga Kai Rau, tini kai ki te ao.’