Matariki Activities for Kids

Matariki Activities for Kids: Crafts, Games, and More

Matariki 2025 is a special time in Aotearoa, marking the Māori New Year and offering a chance to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate with whānau. This year’s Matariki public holiday falls on Friday, 27 June, and the theme is “Matariki ki te Wai” — celebrating the spiritual and life-giving connection between people and water. Inspired by the stars Waitī (freshwater), Waitā (saltwater), and Waipuna-ā-rangi (rain), the theme encourages us to honour our bond with the natural world.

One of the best ways to involve tamariki is through Matariki activities for kids that are fun, meaningful, and hands-on. From crafting stars and learning waiata to playing traditional Māori games and making delicious Matariki treats, these activities help children connect with Māori culture while celebrating the values of whanaungatanga (connection), aroha (love), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).

Creative Matariki Crafts for Kids

Fun and easy ways to bring the stars to life

Arts and crafts are a wonderful way to introduce children to the meaning and symbolism of Matariki. These creative Matariki activities for kids are not only fun, but also help tamariki express their understanding of the stars, nature, and cultural values through hands-on learning.

⭐ How to Make a Matariki Star

Materials:

• Coloured paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Glitter, stickers, or pens (optional)

Steps:

1. Cut a strip of paper (around 1 inch wide and 8 inches long).
2. Fold it in half and crease the centre.
3. Along the folded edge, cut small slits, but stop about ¼ inch from the edge.
4. Unfold and gently bend the slits in opposite directions.
5. Glue the two ends together to form a 3D star.
6. Decorate with glitter, stickers, or drawings.

Kids can make nine stars to represent each whetū (star) in the Matariki cluster and hang them as a mobile, wall decoration, or class display.

Starry Night Sky Paintings

Let tamariki paint their own Matariki night sky using black or navy paper as the base. Use white, silver, or glow-in-the-dark paint to create stars. Sponges, toothbrushes, or cotton buds make excellent tools for adding texture. Encourage kids to place their nine Matariki stars and even name them on the page.

🪁 Paper Manu Tukutuku (Traditional Kites)

Kites are traditionally flown during Matariki to send messages to ancestors and acknowledge those who have passed. You can help children make their own manu tukutuku using:

• Paper or cardboard
• String or wool
• Bamboo skewers or thin sticks
• Decorations: feathers, drawings, and stickers

Help them write a wish or memory on the kite to reflect the Matariki values of remembrance and new beginnings.

🖼️ Matariki Collage or Mobile

Create a hanging Matariki display using recycled materials or nature-inspired textures like leaves, feathers, and bark. Kids can cut out stars, moons, and symbols of water to reflect this year’s theme: Matariki ki te Wai.

These creative projects are a great way to weave in storytelling, star knowledge, and cultural meaning. They make learning about Matariki interactive and memorable, turning art time into a journey of connection and discovery.

Playful Matariki Games and Cultural Activities

Connect through movement, tradition, and fun

Games are an essential part of celebration — and during Matariki, they bring together learning, laughter, and cultural connection. These Matariki activities for kids are ideal for classrooms, whānau gatherings, or community events, helping tamariki build teamwork, coordination, and an appreciation for traditional Māori practices.

🏉 Ki-o-Rahi – A Traditional Māori Ball Game

Ki-o-Rahi is a fast-paced game that involves a small ball (ki), a circular playing field, and two teams with different objectives. It’s based on a legend about the warrior Rahi and blends elements of tag, rugby, and strategy.

Simple setup for kids:

• Use cones or chalk to make a circle
• Use a soft ball (or foam)
• Assign two teams: one aims to tag cones, the other to defend the middle

Even simplified, this game encourages tamariki to work as a team, be active, and experience a taonga (treasured tradition) from te ao Māori.

🌸 Make and Swing Poi

Poi are soft balls attached to a string, traditionally used in performance and storytelling. Kids can make their own poi using:

• Balloons filled with rice or fabric scraps
• Plastic bags or cloth as a covering
• Yarn or string for the handle
• Decorations: markers, feathers, stickers

Once made, tamariki can learn basic swinging techniques or use the poi during waiata-ā-ringa (action songs). Poi builds coordination and rhythm and is a fun way to learn about Māori performing arts.

🔗 Whai – Māori String Games

Whai (string figures) is an ancient Māori pastime using a long piece of string to make patterns between the fingers. These intricate designs often told stories or represented nature.

How to get started:

• Use 1.5 metres of wool or string tied into a loop
• Learn basic shapes like the ladder, te waka (canoe), or star
• Older tamariki can try more complex patterns or teach others

Whai encourages patience, creativity, and sharing knowledge — values closely linked to Matariki.

🧠 Matariki Quiz or Bingo

Create a fun and educational quiz or bingo game for a group of tamariki. Use questions like:

• What star represents rain? (Waipuna-ā-rangi)
• What food is commonly eaten during Matariki? (Kumara)
• How many stars are in the Matariki cluster? (9)

Bingo cards can feature star names, images of Matariki symbols, or te reo Māori words. This activity is excellent for combining fun with learning.

These games and cultural activities help children explore traditional knowledge through play, movement, and storytelling. They support physical learning and also deepen understanding of Māori customs in a way that feels joyful and shared.

Sing, Dance, and Celebrate: Matariki Songs and Dances

Explore Māori culture through rhythm and movement

Music and performance are at the heart of Māori celebration — and Matariki activities for kids are even more memorable when they include waiata (songs), haka, and expressive dance. These traditions help tamariki learn language, coordination, and cultural stories in an uplifting, energetic way.

🎶 Learn a Waiata (Māori Song)

Singing waiata is a beautiful way for tamariki to connect with te reo Māori and the spirit of Matariki. Choose simple, catchy songs that focus on unity, the stars, or aroha.

Recommended waiata for kids:

• “Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi” – A well-known song about standing together as one. Easy to learn and often sung at Matariki events.
• “E Rere Taku Poi” – A fun waiata-ā-ringa (action song) to perform with poi.
• “Te Iwa o Matariki” – A newer song that names and explains each of the nine stars in the cluster. Great for learning star meanings.

You can find YouTube videos or official school resources that include lyrics, actions, and pronunciation.

💃 Waiata-ā-Ringa (Action Songs)

Waiata-ā-ringa are songs with accompanying hand and body movements. They’re a perfect way for children to develop rhythm and recall, especially in group settings.

Tips for teaching waiata-ā-ringa:

• Break it down slowly: teach actions verse by verse
• Practice with music daily leading up to a performance
• Combine with poi for extra expression and fun

This is a great group activity for schools and community celebrations during the Matariki season.

🔥 Learn and Perform a Haka

Haka is a traditional Māori posture dance, often performed to express pride, strength, and respect. While some haka are sacred, there are versions appropriate for children to learn in an educational setting.

Popular haka for beginners:

• “Ka Mate” – Made famous by the All Blacks; a strong and rhythmic haka suitable for group learning.
• Create your own Matariki haka – Work with tamariki to write lines about the stars, the water theme, and whānau values.

Haka builds confidence and teaches tamariki to use their voice, body, and wairua (spirit) to tell a story.

🌟 Put on a Matariki Performance

Bring it all together by planning a small Matariki concert or celebration. Children can perform songs, haka, and dances for parents or classmates. Include simple narration or storytelling to explain the significance of each song or action.

Encouraging tamariki to express themselves through music and movement not only deepens their cultural learning but creates lasting memories they’ll be proud of.

Cook and Share: Matariki-Inspired Kai for Kids

Celebrate Matariki with food, flavour, and whānau

No celebration is complete without kai (food), and Matariki activities for kids wouldn’t be complete without delicious, hands-on cooking experiences. Preparing and sharing food is a powerful way to bring whānau together, honour ancestors, and celebrate the abundance of the harvest season that Matariki marks.

These fun, kid-friendly recipes are simple, safe, and tied to traditional ingredients — perfect for school activities, home cooking, or community gatherings.

🍪 Matariki Star Biscuits

These are always a hit with tamariki and make a great afternoon tea or celebration treat.

What you need:

• Cookie dough (homemade or store-bought)
• Star-shaped cookie cutters
• Icing and edible glitter or sprinkles

Steps:

1. Roll out the dough and cut star shapes.
2. Bake as directed and let cool.
3. Decorate with icing and glitter to represent the stars of Matariki.

Let each child decorate a star to represent one of the nine Matariki whetū.

🥧 Mini Matariki Pies

Teach kids about traditional ingredients and the harvest by making mini pies using puff pastry and fillings like kumara, pumpkin, and even bacon or cheese.

Tips:

• Use muffin trays for shaping.
• Encourage tamariki to choose their own filling combinations.
• Top with a small pastry star before baking!

These are great for shared lunches or school celebrations.

🍞 Rewena Bread (Māori Sourdough)

Rewena is a traditional Māori bread made using a fermented potato starter. It’s perfect for a slow, engaging activity that shows kids the magic of natural fermentation.

Kid-friendly version:

• Use mashed potato, flour, and sugar to start fermentation.
• After the starter is bubbly (in a few days), combine it with more flour and knead.
• Bake into soft rolls or loaves.

This activity teaches patience and can be split over several days with updates.

🍠 Kumara Chips or Mash

A quick, healthy, and tasty way to include Māori staple foods in your celebration.

How to make baked kumara chips:

• Peel and thinly slice kumara.
• Toss with oil, a pinch of salt, and bake at 180°C until golden.
• Serve with dips or alongside other kai.

Tamariki can help with washing, seasoning, and even creating their own dipping sauces.

🧺 Plan a Matariki Shared Kai or Hākari

Encourage families or students to bring a plate to share. Make it a picnic, class party, or whānau evening. Include traditional foods, fruits, and warming soups to honour the spirit of coming together and sharing abundance.

Food is more than nourishment during Matariki — it’s a way to connect across generations, acknowledge the harvest, and pass down values of generosity and gratitude. Including tamariki in the kitchen is not only fun, but also a powerful way to help them appreciate culture through taste, texture, and togetherness.

Create and Connect: Matariki-Inspired Art Projects

Let tamariki express the spirit of Matariki through creativity

Art offers tamariki a powerful way to connect with the deeper meaning of Matariki. These Matariki activities for kids allow them to explore the stars, nature, whānau, and Māori symbolism through drawing, painting, weaving, and carving. Whether in classrooms, homes, or community workshops, creative expression gives kids the freedom to tell their own stories and reflect on what Matariki means to them.

🌌 Starry Night Sky Paintings

Let children reimagine the Matariki night sky using black, navy, or deep purple paper with white, gold, or glow-in-the-dark paint.

Tips for a stunning night sky effect:

• Use sponges or toothbrushes to splatter stars
• Add the Matariki cluster and label each star
• Include mountain or ocean silhouettes to reflect Matariki ki te Wai

These paintings can be used as posters or turned into a classroom display.

🧵 Flax (or Paper) Weaving Projects

Weaving is a traditional Māori art form, used to create clothing, baskets, mats, and decorative pieces. For children, simple weaving projects teach focus, patience, and pattern recognition.

Project ideas:

• Flax bookmarks or bracelets using paper or fabric strips
• Wall hangings inspired by stars or rivers
• Woven “whānau mats” with one strip for each family member

Teach kids the tikanga (customs) of working with harakeke, such as showing respect for the plant and not cutting the central shoot.

🧼 Whakairo (Carving) with Soap or Clay

Introduce tamariki to Māori carving using kid-friendly materials like bars of soap or modelling clay.

Project ideas:

• Carve koru (spiral) or star shapes
• Use toothpicks or safe carving tools
• Decorate with paint or leave natural

Children can learn the meanings of Māori patterns and create their own taonga (treasure) to take home.

🖍️ Matariki Collage

Encourage kids to cut and paste pictures related to Matariki: stars, whanau, kai, rivers, and kites. Use magazine clippings, drawings, or printed images.

Collage themes to explore:

• “My Matariki Whānau” – each star represents a family member
• “Wai and the Stars” – focus on rivers, rain, and the ocean
• “What I’m Thankful For” – images that reflect gratitude and growth

These projects can help kids reflect personally and connect emotionally to the spirit of the season.

🌿 Nature-Inspired Art

Use natural materials such as leaves, bark, feathers, and sand to create Matariki landscapes or symbolic pieces.

Ideas:

• Press leaves to make star shapes
• Glue feathers and flax into starburst patterns
• Build a small display representing sky, land, and water

These projects align beautifully with this year’s theme, Matariki ki te Wai, and encourage kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the earth).

Art gives children a voice — a way to explore cultural identity, express creativity, and feel pride in their connection to Māori heritage. When we provide space for tamariki to create, we also honour the legacy of Matariki: looking up at the stars, and within ourselves.

Storytelling, Movies, and Books for Matariki

Share the magic of Matariki through legends, language, and imagination

Storytelling is a cornerstone of Māori culture — a way to pass on knowledge, values, and whakapapa (ancestry). During Matariki, it’s the perfect time to read, watch, and listen to stories that celebrate the stars, the whenua (land), and our connections to each other. These Matariki activities for kids nurture a love of learning, spark creativity, and deepen understanding of te ao Māori.

📖 Read Matariki-Themed Picture Books

Matariki is a fantastic theme to explore through children’s books. These stories offer age-appropriate language and vibrant illustrations to help tamariki engage with the meaning of Matariki.

Recommended reads:

• “The Seven Kites of Matariki” by Calico McClintock – A colourful story that weaves Māori tradition with the joy of kite flying.
• “Matariki” by Melanie Drewery – A beautifully written introduction to the stars and the season.
• “The Stolen Stars of Matariki” by Miriama Kamo – A gentle, poetic tale of rediscovering the stars through connection and aroha.
• “Rona and the Moon” – A classic Māori legend with themes of family, forgiveness, and the power of the natural world.

You can pair these with group reading, art projects, or retelling activities where tamariki act out or illustrate key scenes.

🎥 Watch Matariki-Related Shows and Short Films

Film and animation bring Māori stories to life for visual learners and younger children. These are great for quiet moments in the classroom or for sharing as a whānau.

Kid-friendly options:

• Pūkana – A fun and engaging Māori children’s show with songs, games, and cultural lessons in te reo Māori.
• He Paki Taonga i a Matariki – A short documentary series from Te Papa that explores treasured Māori objects and their connection to the Matariki season.
• Maui’s Hook (animated) – The story of the Māori demigod Māui, who fished up the North Island using his magical hook.
• Kiri and Lou (for preschoolers) – While not Matariki-specific, this show teaches emotional understanding through Aotearoa’s native landscapes and creatures.

Add reflection questions after watching:

• What did you learn about Matariki or Māori values?
• What was your favourite part and why?

📜 Tell Traditional Māori Legends

Oral storytelling is a powerful way to share the deeper layers of Māori knowledge.

Stories to explore during Matariki:

• The Story of Matariki and Her Children – How the nine stars came to be and what each one represents.
• Tāwhirimātea and the Stars – A legend about how Tāwhirimātea (god of winds and weather) cast his eyes into the sky to form the Matariki cluster.
• The Creation Story – Ranginui and Papatūānuku – A foundational story that explains the separation of sky and earth.

Let tamariki retell these stories with puppets, drawings, or through writing their own versions.

🗣️ Encourage Storytelling at Home

Invite children to ask parents or grandparents to share their own stories — about their childhood, their memories of Matariki, or the stars. These intergenerational moments reinforce whanaungatanga (relationships) and make the celebration more personal and meaningful.

Stories have the power to inspire, teach, and connect. By weaving legends, language, and creativity into Matariki, tamariki not only learn about the past — they shape their understanding of the present and future.

Matariki in the Classroom and Community

Bring tamariki together through learning, celebration, and connection

Matariki is a powerful time to engage children beyond individual activities — it’s an opportunity to foster community, classroom culture, and collective reflection. Whether you’re a teacher, caregiver, or community leader, incorporating Matariki activities for kids into your space creates shared learning experiences that honour Māori tradition and deepen social bonds.

🧑‍🏫 Classroom Ideas for Matariki Learning

Infuse daily learning with Matariki-themed projects that span art, literacy, and science.

Suggestions include:

• Matariki Star Journal – Have tamariki write or draw what each star means to them.
• Thankfulness Wall – Children write or illustrate something they’re grateful for and pin it to a display.
• Star Chart Activity – Track when the Matariki cluster appears and teach basic astronomy.

Use bilingual vocabulary posters or flashcards to integrate te reo Māori into everyday lessons (e.g., Matariki = the Pleiades, whānau = family, wai = water).

🏕️ Organise a School or Community Celebration

Hosting a Matariki celebration helps reinforce key values like whanaungatanga (relationship), manaakitanga (hospitality), and kotahitanga (unity).

Ideas for your event:

• Karakia and Dawn Ceremony – Welcome the Matariki stars with a sunrise event followed by waiata.
• Performance Showcase – Let tamariki present waiata-ā-ringa, haka, or storytelling they’ve prepared.
• Shared Kai or Hākari – Invite families to contribute a dish for a collective meal.
• Display Area – Showcase art, star crafts, or poems the children have created.

This event can involve kaumātua, parents, and local iwi to help bring authenticity and depth to the occasion.

🌌 Teach the Nine Stars of Matariki

Help tamariki learn the names and meanings of the nine stars in the cluster, linking each one to an activity, goal, or personal value.

Activity idea: Assign each child a star and ask them to create a drawing, short poem, or sentence about it. Combine into a mural or presentation.

🤝 Foster Whanaungatanga (Relationships)

Encourage tamariki to learn about the wider community — visit a marae, invite local speakers, or partner with other schools to share Matariki projects.

Creating collaborative, inclusive environments reflects the spirit of Matariki — a time to pause, reconnect, and grow together.

By bringing Matariki into classrooms and community spaces, we ensure that its traditions are not just observed but lived. Tamariki develop a stronger sense of place, belonging, and cultural appreciation when they celebrate Matariki as part of something bigger — a collective journey of remembrance, celebration, and hope.

Reflecting on the Meaning of Matariki

Helping tamariki understand the values behind the stars

While crafts, games, food, and songs bring Matariki to life in joyful ways, it’s also important to slow down and explore the deeper meaning behind the celebration. Matariki is a time for reflection — remembering those we’ve lost, appreciating the present, and setting intentions for the year ahead. These values are what truly define the Māori New Year and give depth to all Matariki activities for kids.

🧠 Encourage Gratitude and Mindfulness

Matariki is about pausing and being thankful. It’s a great opportunity to introduce simple mindfulness or gratitude practices to tamariki.

Activity ideas:

• “Gratitude Stars” – Give each child a paper star and ask them to write or draw one thing they’re grateful for.
• “Matariki Moments” Circle – Sit in a circle and invite each child to share a favourite memory, a person they miss, or a hope for the future.
• Reflection Journal – Create a small booklet where kids can record thoughts or feelings throughout the Matariki season.

These practices help children process emotions, develop empathy, and gain emotional literacy — all within a culturally meaningful context.

🌟 Make Connections to the Stars

Each star in the Matariki cluster represents an aspect of life — food, water, weather, remembrance, or aspiration. Teaching tamariki what each star stands for opens the door to rich personal reflection.

Prompting questions:

• Which star do you feel most connected to this year? Why?
• What do you wish for yourself or your whānau, like Hiwa-i-te-Rangi?
• Who would you like to remember and honour, like Pōhutukawa?

Reflection doesn’t have to be formal — it can be shared over kai, drawn in pictures, or even expressed through movement or music.

🌿 Explore Kaitiakitanga and Caring for Nature

With the 2025 theme “Matariki ki te Wai”, this is an ideal time to discuss how we care for water, land, and the natural world.

Activities that inspire action:

• Plant trees or native plants
• Clean up a local stream or beach
• Talk about water use and why wai is sacred in te ao Māori

This teaches tamariki that reflection leads to action — and that small steps matter when it comes to protecting the world we live in.

Matariki is a time to look up at the stars, but also to look within. When children reflect on their place in the world, the people who support them, and the goals they want to achieve, they carry the heart of Matariki with them — not just for one season, but throughout the year.

Carrying the Spirit of Matariki Forward

A celebration of stars, stories, whānau, and the future

Matariki is far more than a public holiday — it’s a time to reconnect with culture, honour the past, embrace the present, and set intentions for the future. For tamariki, it offers a rich and meaningful opportunity to engage with Māori traditions through activities that are hands-on, joyful, and deeply rooted in values like aroha, whanaungatanga, and kaitiakitanga.

Through Matariki activities for kids — from crafting stars and learning waiata to sharing kai, playing traditional games, and reflecting on their dreams — children not only celebrate but grow. They come to understand that each star in the Matariki cluster holds a story and a purpose, just like each one of them. Whether at home, in school, or within the wider community, these experiences plant seeds of cultural appreciation, connection, and pride.

As we look to the skies during Matariki 2025, let us all take a moment to pause, look around us, and celebrate what matters most — whānau, whenua, and the promise of a bright, united future. And let us guide our tamariki to carry that light forward, star by star.