Families with children are more likely to have celebrated Matariki, with Māori, Pasifika, and Asian New Zealanders more likely than average to mark the occasion. Those born in Aotearoa New Zealand and those born overseas are equally likely to mark Matariki.

The survey of 1,000 people was conducted by Kantar Public in August 2022 and is nationally representative.

The museum’s Mānawatia a Matariki exhibition is open again from 2 June to 30 July 2023. An estimated 60,000 people visited the exhibition last year.

Visitors left behind more than 12,000 hand-written notes sharing their pledges for the future with Hiwa-i-te-rangi, the star in the Matariki cluster associated with dreams and aspirations.

Te Papa analysed a sample of 1,641 of the aspirations left behind and found some common themes.

• Aroha 37%
• Be connected 21%
• Act for nature 13%
• Make change 7%
• Thrive in te ao Māori 5%
• Serve community 5%
• Support whānau 4%

Messages ranged from the profound: To leave this world a better place for my tamariki. To bring back nature, for humans to learn they are part of nature + walk harmoniously with it, to the practical: Ka whakapai au I taku ruma moe. [To clean my bedroom].

Matariki is a time of year to remember those who have passed, and a number of visitors left personal messages about loved ones for Pōhutukawa, the star of remembrance.