A truly sensorial event for children, families and the wider community during the Northern Lights Festival. Visitors will experience this sheltered walkway and glade in a new and exciting way that highlights the natural flora and fauna at night.

In the Maori story of creation, Tāne Mahuta (god of the forest) separated his parents Ranginui and Papatūānuku, and his brother Tāwhirimātea got upset and tore out his eyes, crushed them into pieces and threw them into the sky. Traditionally, Maori iwi, or communities, would gather together at night during a time of the constellation's prominence, making use of the period between harvests to celebrate and make offerings for a bountiful future.

This event will highlight sound and visual lighting scenes to create the awe and wonder of the gods in moving colour, sound effects and scenes that will relate to the Matariki celebration and festival. Families will experience the wonder of nature, the wind and stars highlighted in the trees and bush with shifting colour washes, moving image projections, mists and laser lighting effects, along with audio soundscapes surrounding Matariki.

The pathway from the Ngunguru Library begins along the north east side of the Library, across a small bridge over large mangrove trees, natives, non-natives specimen trees and other natural bush of the coastal walkway. The short walkway opens out into a sheltered glade where these audio visual experiences will be amplifying the wonder of our coastal flora and fauna.

Developed by a small team of volunteers this lights instillation will be set within the bush and surrounding glade areas for interest, entertainment and the awe of seeing our coastal bush areas in mystic colours and sound excited by the magic of Matariki.

This installation will be open from Friday 2nd- Tuesday 6th July. Tickets essential as you will be given a set of headphones to enjoy this experience fully.

Proudly sponsored by 'TC SYSTEMS' - EVENT SERVICES and 'THINK TREES' Arborist Services Northland.

This is a not-for-profit, community run event. Our Tickets have a tier system. Grab a koha ticket for you and your whanau or choose to give a little extra if you can! There will be an option for you to give koha on the evening too.

We thank you for your support.

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Curator - Mark Wallis (a.k.a DJ Poppa Soul) Musician, DJ, Primary Health clinician and general all round crazy ideas guy!

"Having lived on the Tutukaka coast for a couple of years now, I’m awed by our coastal environment, natural bush, flora and fauna. We are blessed with amazingly talented creative people and it’s a pleasure to contribute and be a part of the Northland Festival of Lights."

Contact the host of Mysteries of the Mangroves - A Sensory Night Walk