You can spend a night gazing at the beautiful constellations in the New Zealand night sky thanks to this new initiative by Tourism New Zealand. To commemorate the start of the Māori New Year, or Matariki, New Zealand is inviting the world to join them virtually to kick off the festivities with an inaugural stargazing live-stream direct from one of the country's most incredible stargazing locations – the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Mataraki commemorates the start of a special occasion in the Māori calendar, signified by the Mataraki cluster of stars reappearing in the night sky. It's a time of celebration and reflection. And while we may not be able to travel to New Zealand this year to witness the celebration with our own eyes, you can catch this significant cultural moment via live stream on July 21. Viewers will be transported to the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve where host and former All Black Israel Dagg will shed light on the story, myths, and legends of Matariki – all under the magic of the Matariki stars and the New Zealand night sky. For those unfamiliar, Aoraki Mackenzie is a gold-rated dark sky reserve comprising of Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealand’s South Island. It was formally recognised as a Dark Sky Reserve in 2012, formalising restrictions on light pollution that had been in place since the 1980s.
To join the live stream, follow Tourism New Zealand's Facebook page and tune in on Tuesday, July 21 at 1.30 am Singapore time for the stargazing experience.
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