Dates for the new Matariki public holiday for the next thirty years have been released by the government.

The extra public holiday will always be on a Friday and next year's is on June 24.

The calendar date for holiday will shift each year to align with the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar).

'Matariki will be our first public holiday that recognises Te Ao Māori and will be one that is uniquely New Zealand,” says, acting Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritag Peeni Henare.

'Mātauranga Māori has been at the heart of decision making on the new public holiday,” says Henare.

Tauranga local and Pwo Navigator, Jack Thatcher is a member of the advisory group and excited about the public holiday.

'I love the fact that having a public holiday puts a larger emphasis on Matariki for the general public,” he exclaims.

'Those themes don't just need to be an indigenous modelling, it can be a following that all of Aotearoa can participate in.”

Henare agrees, 'Matariki is more than just a public holiday. Our celebration of the new public holiday will be informed by key values such as unity, sharing, feasting, coming together, and environmental awareness”.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood says, 'The Matariki Advisory Group asked that we be guided by the whakataukī ‘Matariki hunga nui' (Matariki brings us together).”

'This new long weekend will allow people to travel to their hometown or around our regions, and spend time with their whanau,” he says.

'The public holiday always falling on a Friday will also mean many of those who miss out on the Mondayisation of holidays will have Matariki to look forward to,” says Wood.

Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades, and refers to a cluster of stars that rises in mid-winter, marking the start of the Māori New Year. Some iwi name this time of year Puanga, after a bright star that is above and to the right of the Matariki constellation.

Proposed Matariki public holiday dates