LIVE Day: Weather science 2026
19 July 2026 - 19 July 2026
Region(s): Auckland
Type(s): experiences, exhibitions
MOTAT LIVE Days are interactive and hands-on days filled with learning, play and special moments, perfect for the whole whānau! With live entertainment, collection items, plus plenty of activities – there's a little something for everyone.
This July at LIVE DAY: Weather Science uncover the stories of the weather-related stars in the Matariki cluster, Waipunarangi and Ururangi.
Waipunarangi is associated with the various forms of rain that we experience throughout the year as it falls from the sky and washes over the earth, nourishing all living things. If you can’t see Waipunarangi clearly during Matariki, the year will bring lots of rain and maybe some flooding. If she’s bright and clear, the rain will be light.
Ururangi connects us to the different winds and this whetū determines the nature of these winds. If Ururangi is hard to see when the cluster of Matariki rises, the year will be windy. If he is bright and clear, the winds will be calm.
Make and take home your own cloud finder, have fun with weather science experiments featuring raindrops and rainbows, and find out more about the different winds and how they work at our latest exhibition Ngā hau a Tāwhirirangi Forces of Flight, in the Aviation Hall.
Plus, enjoy songs, stories, and glamourous costumes with Hugo's Rainbow Show. A musical and magical adventure exploring the science of the skies above.
Included in General Admission.
Location: Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), 805 Great North Road & 98 Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland
For more information and to purchase MOTAT tickets: www.motat.nz/events/live-day-weather-science-2026.
Related content
We published a series of articles supporting the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ report that used the whetū as a framework to explore the state of our environment. These article below are particularly relevant:
Waipunarangi – rains, frosts and climate examines climate change impacts on mātauranga Māori, ecosystems and habitats and the economy.
Ururangi – air, winds and the sky encourages us to pause and observe the winds and the skies. These links between humanity and te taiao will always remain.
The Te Kāhui o Matariki and the environment webinar unpacks the ideas connected to this report and the associated resources. The supporting collection Matariki and Environment Aotearoa 2022 provides additional context and pedagogical insights.
Te Kāhui o Matariki – introduction is a handy introduction to the range of other resources we have on Matariki.
Browse our wide range of weather resources – articles, activites, interactives and more – all under our Weather topic.