Clearer skies forecast for Matariki weekend as nation prepares for stargazing and hautapu

Aotearoa is set for a weekend of clear, crisp skies as weather patterns settle just in time for the Matariki long weekend celebrations. MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker told RNZ that a ridge of high pressure is moving across the country, signifying less cloud cover which is welcome news for those planning to view the Matariki star cluster or the star Puanga. While the heavy rain that affected the country this week is expected to ease by Friday morning, Bakker warned that the settled air will bring significantly lower temperatures. Parts of the South Island could see lows of -5°C, with Twizel forecast to drop to -8°C on Saturday morning. Astronomers and whānau are encouraged to wrap up warm when heading out for pre-dawn viewing. Conditions are expected to improve as the weekend progresses, making Sunday morning an ideal time for stargazing in many regions. Westport and the West Coast are highlighted as particularly good viewing spots. While coastal areas and Gisborne may experience some patchy cloud cover, the upper North Island is expected to be clear on Saturday and Sunday. To assist observers, MetService has launched an interactive cloud cover map that uses satellite imagery and modelling to provide real-time percentages of cloud density across different regions. In Auckland, preparations are underway for the national hautapu ceremony scheduled for Friday morning at Takaparawhau, Bastion Point. Bakker noted that Friday's weather should be decent for the Tāmaki Makaurau ceremony, with conditions reaching their peak clarity on Saturday. For those looking to locate the cluster, the advice from RNZ is to search the eastern horizon before sunrise, tracing a line from Tautoru (Orion's Belt) through the orange star Taumata-kuku to find the small group of stars that marks the Māori New Year.