- Retail NZ
The first Matariki public holiday is less than a month away, and while excitement is building for many, some have raised fears about how it will be marked.
Matariki holds significant cultural and spiritual weight for many Māori and some fear the occasion could become commercialised or reduced to a homogenous celebration.
Astronomer and maramataka expert Rangi Matamua, who spent decades campaigning for Matariki, is brimming with excitement for the holiday. So much so he is keeping count: Three weeks and two days.
Matamua is the chair of the government's Matariki advisory committee and is also an adviser for Crown agency Te Arawhiti as it prepares for Matariki.
Link to video and article: Matariki should not be commercialised - Retail NZ | Newshub
