As the sun goes down on Thursday 9 July, Karangahape Road will come alive with art installations, kai, storytelling and a free celebration featuring Ladi6, Halfqueen, Mā with full band, Noa Records & more.
From 5pm, thousands of people are invited to gather beneath the winter stars as Te Karanga-a-Hape connects with Matariki through an evening programme celebrating community and creativity.
In a special occasion road closure, a section of Karangahape Road will be transformed into a welcoming public space. A circular stage will rise from the iconic rainbow crossing outside St Kevin's Arcade, surrounded by communal tables, fire pits, crafting and gathering spaces, creating a place for people to come together, reflect and celebrate.
Join us at 5pm for the Mihi Whakatau led by Kaumatua Adrian Noda. Audiences will experience kapa haka performed by the Auckland Anglican Māori Club and spoken word from Rehekōrero to tautoko the night and lead us into the festivities.
The free programme will be hosted by comedian Janaye Henry who brings a personal style of hosting that blends humour, observation and a grounded voice in contemporary Aotearoa storytelling.
To help guide a journey through the stars, Karangahape Road will become a living Matariki art trail through a series of large-scale textile & light installations created by artist and Creative Director Nayesha Waiti-Mulholland. Connected to the whetū of Matariki, the installations invite visitors to journey through stories of remembrance, water, food, renewal and aspiration.
Highlights include a luminous Pōhutukawa installation in Myers Park dedicated to remembrance and reflection, a 20-metre textile waterfall in Mercury Lane honouring Waitī, Waitā and Te Waihorotiu, a giant woven nest for Tupuārangi near the main stage, and an interactive textile installation offered to Hiwa-i-te-Rangi where people can share their hopes for the year ahead.
During the evening, people can also experience artist Qiane Matata-Sipu's acclaimed Nuku Collection in Beresford Square, her series of illuminated lightboxes honouring the strength, presence and enduring power of wāhine Māori, installed in Beresford Square yesterday..
More than a festival, Te Karanga-a-Hape is an invitation to connect with te taiao, with our communities and with ourselves through the stories carried by the stars above. Nau mai, come be warm with your whānau and immerse yourself in the mauri of Karangahape Road.
Event Details
Te Karanga-a-Hape
Thursday 9 July 2026
5pm–10pm
Karangahape Road, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Admission: Free and open to all ages.
Programme Highlights
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Karangahape Road closure for free programme
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Performances from Ladi6, Halfqueen, MA and more
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Hosted by comedian Janaye Henry
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Kapa haka, spoken word and storytelling
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Large-scale Matariki art installations down the road
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Fire pits and community gathering spaces
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Crafting areas and interactive art
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Afterparty at Double Whammy, Public Bar & Whammy (Details to come)
