In the winter nights, the City Centre of Christchurch was illuminated with brilliant lights, as if putting gorgeous colourful clothes on the City’s buildings in the cold winter winds. This was Tirama Mai, the Grand Lighting Show at the City Centre and the New Brighton Beach, put up by Christchurch City Council from June to July 2021. The colourful lights of the Show signified the casting of brightness and positivity onto the Land. This was the first time in the history of Christchurch City Council that a special event was held in conjunction with Matariki, the Maori New Year.
Tīrama Mai Lighting Show was spread across all corners of the City Centre and the beach of New Brighton. A total of 27 scenic spots were chosen, including the Avon Riverside, Parks, new Office Buildings and Art Galleries, Heritage Sites, Tracks and Pier, etc., made lively with lighting installations of various and varied patterns and colours, showcasing the splendour of a magnificent Lighting Show. The Lighting Show was jointly produced by a number of local Lighting Designers. Through a series of innovative lighting installations, and artistically designed illumination of, and light-projection on, objects and buildings, the Show turned out to be unique and spectacular. The Show skillfully combined astronomy, geography, traditional Maori tattoo patterns, wildlife and environmental aspects, etc., exuding a strong air of New Zealand cultures.
The Lighting Show ended with a display of fireworks at the New Brighton Beach on 10th July 2021. That night’s fireworks attracted 35,000 people to New Brighton and nearby areas. The bright fireworks lit up the sky above New Brighton and ignited the Light of Hope, symbolizing Maori’s welcome of their New Year.
The traditional Maori New Year begins with the first new moon following the appearance of the Pleiades (Maori called Matariki, meaning “Eyes of God”) on the eastern horizon. Matariki is composed of nine stars visible to the naked eye. They are: Matariki, Tupuārangi, Waipuna-ā-Rangi, Waitī, Tupuānuku, Ururangi, Waitā, Pōhutukawa and Hiwa-i-te-Rangi. Each star represents health, fruits from trees, rain, fresh water and foods therefrom, wind, foods gathered from soil, ocean and foods therefrom, death, and attainment of goals respectively. In June or July of each year, when the Pleiades star cluster appears in the night sky of New Zealand, it marks the arrival of the Maori New Year, symbolizing the beginning of a New Year and the changes of the seasons.
For the Maori, the appearance of Matariki is the time to celebrate rebirth and plan for the future, and is also the time to remember the dead. At the same time, the Maori will judge the climate changes in the coming year by the brightness of the star cluster. If the stars are bright and clear, it means that the weather is going to be warm in the coming winter and there will be good harvests in the coming year; otherwise, if the stars are dim and hazy, it means that the coming winter will be cold, and that the date to start cultivation needs to be delayed.
This year, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that, starting from 2022, Matariki day will become a National Holiday in New Zealand, and the date for Matariki day is fixed on 24th June of the year. This announcement of making Matariki day a National Holiday goes to show that New Zealand Government attaches great importance to Maori Culture. Twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year. For Māori, the appearance of Matariki heralds a time of remembrance, joy and peace. It is a time for communities to come together and celebrate.
