Written in the stars

Stars and steam will come together at the annual Matariki Night Lights Festival in Waiuku.

Also known as the Tuhiōnōrangi Matariki Festival, the event has been running since 2021.

Festival organiser and manager of Oha Cafe, Marie-Clare Cockburn, said the event was a fun time for everyone.

“The owners of Oha Cafe, Lisa and Roimata Minhinnick, wanted a way to celebrate Matariki with the community and especially the tamariki of Waiuku and Franklin after the hard year beforehand with the Covid lockdowns.”

Tuhiōnōrangi takes its name from an ancient Pa site at Manukau Heads on the Awhitu Peninsula.

“It was well known as the place to go to celebrate Matariki and to view the stars. We aim to reinvigorate and honour this tikanga with our event of the same name,” she said.

The festival features food trucks, a craft market, amusement rides, and of course, Taiki te Tirema, the 116-year-old steam train provided by Glenbrook Vintage Railway (GVR).

Enjoy a return journey on GVR’s Matariki Night Lights Steam Train, departing every 35 minutes from the festival site at Victoria Ave, Waiuku, between 1pm and 9.10pm.

This year, tickets are only available online, and walk-up tickets will not be available.

“From my perspective as the organiser, it’s just so cool to see the community come out and enjoy the day together, and to see the children all having so much fun. Seeing Taiki arrive at the train station all lit up as the night goes on is pretty special too.”

For updated festival information, visit Oha Cafe’s Facebook page.

Train tickets are only sold online, so buy them here: www.gvr.org.nz/event/matariki-night-lights.