Learn about raumati with free family-friendly activities, workshops and performances at Te Papa.
In te ao Māori1, summer is known as raumati. During the summer months, Rehua is one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
There is a well-known whakataukī2, ‘Te tātarakihi, te pihareinga; ko ngā manu ēnā o Rehua’ (the locust and the cricket are Rehua’s songbirds), because these creatures sing when the heat3 of summer has arrived.
Come along and learn about ngā manu a rehua and the other creatures who are active in te taiao4 during the summer months.
Activities include:
- learn about kihikihi from Lead Curator Invertebrates5 Julia Kasper
- summer creation and waiata6 station
- explore Bush City and create manu sounds with taonga7 puoro
- face painting
- a quiet space with games.
Location: Red Gates, Amphitheatre, Bush City, Level 1 outside, Te Papa Tongarewa, 55 Cable Street, Wellington.
Find out more here: www.tepapa.govt.nz/visit/events/whanau-day-nga-manu-a-rehua-the-birds-of-rehua.
For tamariki8 5 years and under – you might be interested in Tamariki Time: Te Tangi a Hineraumati – the Sounds of Summer on 21 February.
Related content
Find out more about kihikihi (cicadas) and test your knowledge with this label interactive activity.
Use the activity Investigating movement and sound with a pūrerehua with your ākonga9 and/or mokopuna10 to create and use a Māori musical instrument.
Browse our huge range of bird resources under the topic.
For more fun summer holiday activity ideas, see our 2024/2025 summer holidays event listing.
Summer is a great time of year to explore science – UV light11, solar power12, beaches, the rocky shore, fire risks and much more. Explore our articles, activities and interactives about all things Summer in this collection.
