Queens Park Ready To Be Lit Up For Matariki

Another even bigger and better Murihiku Matariki Festival is underway in Queens Park this coming long weekend.

Organised and funded by the Tūturu Trust for the past four years, the festival is an accumulation of ideas by local art workshop facilitator Sharne Parkinson.

“This festival has been my brain dump every year,” she said, of her many designs being brought to life through light installations and a light show over the pond.

Several community groups and organisations also contribute to the Matariki festival with creative works, and Sharne has a special projection on the museum she will be displaying.

This year’s theme is Taonga – Living Taonga, Our Taonga, and Sharne said her projection is going to look spectactular.  The layout around the stage area has also been redesigned to accommodate more people comfortably.

Last year 85,000 people attended the Matariki festival, and this year it opens on Friday night at 5:15pm until 10pm and runs through to Tuesday.

“This year we’re expecting more – we’re taking whoever comes through the gate,” she said.