Auckland Zoo Matariki

We created an immersive, fun and engaging experience which filled the space with wonder and encouraged the audience to interact and get excited about the stories and traditions of Matariki. Matariki is the NZ Māori name for a cluster of stars which is visible in our night sky at a specific time of the year. In Aotearoa | New Zealand, Matariki is a time to gather with family and friends to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. For three sold-out events during the Matariki, we worked with Auckland Zoo to create a unique and mesmerising digital art installation. Families were encouraged to move around in front of the screen and see their body movement reflected back as constellations or work together to activate all 9 Matariki Cluster stars for a shooting star surprise. With an 18m x 4m screen in combination with three projectors and infrared sensors, the audience was transported into the night sky and brought closer than ever to the Matariki constellation. The predominately young audience were encouraged to move and marvel at the night sky. This added another layer of engagement in addition to the performances, activities and storytelling which the rest of the experience delivered.