Slashed Matariki funding threatens to leave communities in the dark

Slashed Matariki funding threatens to leave communities in the dark

Government funding for Matariki events was cut by nearly half this year. With some festivals now cancelled or scaled back, Liam Rātana investigates what’s been lost – and what’s still happening. Just four years after Matariki became a public holiday, the future of our public celebrations is looking less certain. In Budget 2024, the coalition government slashed funding for Matariki events by 45% – dropping from $5.5m to $3m. For many communities,…