Matariki has begun with a bang, with events across the Bay held to mark the occasion.
The first week of the 15th annual Matariki Festival, which celebrates the Maori New Year, has already seen exhibitions, lecture series, navigated tours around Mauao and astronomy presentations for kids.
Traditional navigator Jack Thatcher has been teaching early risers about Mauao with a hikoi up the mountain at 5.40am every morning this week.
Local Tauranga children spent the week creating Maori kites, known as manu tukutuku, or manu aute.