Ariki Stars

03/05/2026

03/05/2026

"Anywhere in the country is going to get a good view."

17/03/2026

If you are up before sunrise tomorrow morning, be sure to catch this gorgeous triple conjunction between Mercury, Mars, and a thin crescent Moon.

The trio will be nestled close together just before sunrise in the east.

02/03/2026

We are just one day away from a total lunar eclipse visible throughout the country! Here are the exact timings from start to finish for tomorrow nights blood Moon. New Zealand is one of a few countries that will be able to witness the eclipse for its entire duration.

The best time to see the blood Moon will be from midnight to 1am (New Zealand time), with the peak of the eclipse occuring just after 12:30am. If you manage to capture this beautiful celestial event, be sure to send us your photos!

16/02/2026

A 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse will occur later tonight, but will unfortunately only be visible to a select few scientists and penguins in Antarctica. An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, but is too far from Earth to completely cover the Sun's disk. This leaves a bright outer ring of the sun visible, often called a "ring of fire", at maximum eclipse.

Eclipses come in pairs, and we will witness a total lunar eclipse in just two weeks here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

14/12/2025

The best meteor shower of the year will be visible across New Zealand skies from Sunday night.

Find out more below 🔗

07/10/2025

07/09/2025

Blood Moon, Lunar Eclipse Aotearoa skies
8 September 2025

19/06/2025

Mānawatia a Matariki me Puanga! 🌌
We celebrate the rising of Matariki and Puanga — a time to honour those who’ve passed, gather with whānau, and set intentions for the year ahead.

🌟 Matariki 2025 Theme:

This year, we honour both Matariki and Puanga — stars that mark the Māori New Year across different iwi and regions.

✨ Matariki mā Puanga is all about:
🌿 Inclusion – Recognising diverse traditions
🤝 Unity – Coming together as whānau and communities
💛 Values – Kindness, sharing, identity & aroha
🌅 Reflection – Remembering those who’ve passed
🌱 Renewal – Looking ahead with hope

As artists, educators and storytellers, we look to the stars to guide our mahi — grounding ourselves in mātauranga Māori and the beauty of collective growth.

✨ Use this time to reflect, reconnect and dream forward.
Mānawatia a Matariki! 🌠