West Side Story's Tony and Maria re-enact a scene from La La Land. Mike Steedman, of Ngati Whatua, announces the dawn of Matariki. Photo / Peter Meecham
The dawn of Matariki is upon us - and with it comes true love.
This year's Matariki - the rising of the cluster of stars of the same name (also known as Pleiades) and the start of the Maori new year - was celebrated in a special way this week,
with a touch of love and theatre, at the Auckland Stardome Observatory and Planetarium.
Maori new year is traditionally celebrated between the end of May and early June. But this year, celebrations throughout the country officially begin tomorrow.
Mike Steedman, of Ngati Whatua, dressed in traditional finery to appear alongside actors of the hugely popular Broadway stage show, West Side Story, which is showing in Auckland until July 2.
In a scene reminiscent of one depicted in the blockbuster Hollywood film La La Land, actors Kevin Hack and Jenna Burns - who play star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria in the play - posed underneath a cluster of stars as the Maori warrior stood by.
