Hundreds of people gathered at the city’s Steamer Basin to watch the Mana Moana light show in Otago Harbour last night, and hundreds more took the opportunity to grieve loved ones at the annual Matariki Ahuka Nui dawn ceremony as the prominent star cluster rose above Otago Museum.
About 140 people who died during the past year were remembered while their images were projected as a giant digital artwork on the front wall of the museum.
The event started at 6.45am and was a collaboration between mana whenua and the Dunedin City Council.
Deputy mayor Sophie Barker, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki representative Matapura Ellison and museum director Dr Ian Griffin gave speeches and free food was provided by the museum’s Precinct Cafe.
"I had my grandmother who passed away a few months ago on there, and it felt good because she spent a lot of her life in Dunedin.
"Her being remembered at this big ceremony for Dunedin felt like she was included in it and it was really special for me."
Mr Levitt-Campbell said he and his mother found the experience healing.
"It was my mum’s idea and the year prior, for the Matariki ceremony, she wanted to submit her brother who also passed away the year before.
"She is quite comfortable with doing this and finds that it is quite healing for her grief."
He said the ceremony seemed to be becoming a Dunedin tradition for people to connect with loved ones.
The repeating 45-minute show offers a mix of new films by local, national and international indigenous artists, projected on to a water screen in Otago Harbour.
