'Aspirations rise to the year ahead': King Charles' Matariki message

The King has released a message to mark Matariki, sending his and Queen Camilla's best wishes to New Zealanders as they mark the Māori New Year.

In the message, released in both English and te reo Māori, the King reflected on the significance of the Matariki star cluster and its role in bringing people together.

"This week eyes across New Zealand will be raised to the winter skies, watching for the reappearance of Matariki, signalling Te Tau Hou Māori, the Māori New Year," the King said.

"Known by many names to peoples across the world, the Matariki star cluster reminds us that the natural world is a connecting thread that draws us together reaching across boundaries and cultures."

The King referenced the 2026 theme.

"This year's Matariki theme, Matariki herenga waka - for everyone, encourages all New Zealanders to come together to embrace Matariki, to learn, to share and to celebrate together," he said.

"As you enter this period of reflection, remembrance, connection and celebration, my wife and I send our warmest good wishes to you all."

The King closed his message with a traditional Matariki whakataukī, or proverb: "Ka mahuta a Matariki i te pae, ka tukuna ō tātou tūmanako ki te tau hou" — "When Matariki rises above the horizon, our aspirations rise to the year ahead."

The message was signed "Charles R."

The full message was also released in te reo Māori:

"E mihi ana ki Te Kāhui o Matariki. Kei tēnei wiki ka titiro whakarunga ngā tini kanohi puta noa i Aotearoa ki ngā rangi o te Takurua, ka rarapa i te hokinga mai o Matariki, te tohu o te Tau Hou Māori.

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"E mōhiotia ana ki ngā tini ingoa e ngā tini iwi puta noa i te ao, ko te kāhui whetū nei o Matariki tērā ka whakamaumahara i a tātau ko te ao tūroa he aho e whakahonohono ana i a tātau puta noa i ngā roherohenga me ngā ahurea. Ko te kaupapa o Matariki mō tēnei tau, ko Matariki herenga waka - Mō te katoa, ka akiaki i ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa ki te taki huihui ki te hāpai i a Matariki, ki te ako, ki te tohatoha, ki te whakanui ngātahi. I a koutou ka tau atu ki tēnei wā huritao, maumahara, whakahono, whakanui anō hoki, tēnei māua ko taku hoa wahine ka tuku atu i ā māua mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa.

"Ka mahuta a Matariki i te pae, ka tukuna ō tātou tūmanako ki te tau hou."