Mānawatia a Matariki! Happy Matariki, Alexandra!
Celebrate the Māori New Year these school holidays with our Night Sky Whetū Explorer Challenge — a fun, hands-on activity programme for tamariki and whānau exploring the wonders of the night sky.
Running throughout the school holidays until Sunday 19 July, the challenge is waiting for you at Central Stories. Pick up your Night Sky Whetū Explorer Log and complete a minimum of three challenges from our activity stations to earn your stamps, collect your rewards, and go in the draw to win a fantastic prize pack.
The challenges:
- Make Māui’s Fish Hook — construct the Scorpius constellation out of marshmallows and discover why Māori know it as the fish hook Māui used to fish up Te Ika a Māui
- Make a Matariki Paper Lantern — create and decorate your own lantern celebrating what the Māori New Year means to you
- Make a Matariki Star Map — learn the nine stars of the Matariki cluster and assemble your own star map to take home
- Night Sky Clue Hunt — hunt around the museum to find hidden night sky wonders and fill in your explorer log
- Make a Matariki Wish — write your wish for the new year on a wishing star to hang in the museum or take home
Complete three challenges and receive:
- A lollipop
- A $10 off entry voucher for Hub HQ, Alexandra’s indoor family adventure centre
- A $5 children’s meal voucher for The Finery restaurant and café
You’ll also go in the draw to win a Night Sky Explorer prize pack, including prizes from Hub HQ, The Finery, and a $50 Paper Plus voucher.
Thank you to our generous sponsors Hub HQ and The Finery for supporting this programme.
Open daily 10am–4pm | Free entry | All ages welcome
Running now until Sunday 19 July 2026
