10 June 2009 - In early June the star cluster Matariki (the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters) will reappear in our dawn skies, staying for almost 12 months. The Mori New Year begins with the first new moon after Matariki's reappearance and, from 25 June, Te Papa is bringing this special celebratory period to all people of Aotearoa New Zealand with an 18-day Matariki Festival (www.tepapa.govt.nz/matariki).

The theme of this year's celebration - whakawhanaungatanga (bringing people together) - resonates throughout Te Papa's exciting Matariki events programme, which includes a mini film festival, modern and traditional music and dance, Star Lab sessions, and special activities for children.

Show New Zealand how you and your family celebrate Matariki by grabbing your camera and entering your photos into Capture Matariki. Your images will become part of a huge Matariki photographic collection and you'll be able to see them online, or larger than life in Our Space, Te Papa's exciting interactive multimedia zone. In July, your Matariki images could be selected to be the first to appear on a massive 101 inch screen outside Te Papa! For information on how to enter, go to ourspace.tepapa.com.

Don't miss the Seven Sisters and Seven Brothers concerts featuring Warren Maxwell, Toni Huata, and a dozen other top home-grown performers, or the Matariki arts and crafts village where Mori and Pacific artists will display traditional jewellery and demonstrate their skills in weaving, carving, and t moko.

2009 sees the return of the hugely popular Kaumtua Kapa Haka on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July. Featuring senior performing groups from across Aotearoa New Zealand, this event is a unique opportunity to see popular items performed by leading exponents of the art. Can't make it to Te Papa? This event will be streamed live on the internet to communities around the country and the world on www.tepapa.govt.nz/kapahaka - so tell your family and friends and join us as the drama and magic of this remarkable event unfolds. Other highlights include the fun-filled Te Huka Tai Whnau Day on Sunday 28 June with storytelling, games and hands-on crafts for all the family, then rangatahi (youth) take over Te Papa on 5 July with a thumping line-up of music from artists Majic and Robbie, Olmecha Supreme, Dam Native, MC Kommikal and Upper Hutt Posse. Special guest King Kapisi will also be on hand to judge your beatboxing talents!

Te Papa thanks the following companies and organisations - the 'Seven Sisters' - for their generous support of the Matariki Festival at Te Papa: TelstraClear, Te Rnanga o Ngi Tahu, New Zealand Post, Te Puni Kkiri, toi iho', Te Mngai Pho and Wellington City Council.

Matariki is a time to reflect, and a time to spend with family and friends - a time to appreciate the people around us. Come and celebrate the Mori New Year at Te Papa!