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Hundreds of people gathered on Mt Ngongotahā in Rotorua for the second official Matariki public holiday.

Matariki - Figure 1
Photo RNZ

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The traditional hautapu ceremony was led by a group of tohunga who sent their karakia up to the Matariki star cluster.

For the first time, women were part of the hautapu.

The rising of Matariki marks the start of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar.

Matariki - Figure 2
Photo RNZ
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