Try these stellar Matariki craft ideas

In 2025, Aotearoa New Zealand celebrates Matariki from 19-22 June, with a national public holiday on Friday 20 June. This year’s theme is about inclusion, embracing diversity and celebrating together.

Spending time with friends and family over the Matariki long weekend and working on a paint project together is a lovely way to mark the occasion as well as enjoy each other’s company.

The appearance of the Matariki star cluster in the morning sky in mid-winter marks the Māori New Year, or Te Mātahi o te Tau. It signals a time to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present and plan for the future. Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. The nine stars are named Pōhutukawa, Tipuānuku, Tipuārangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipunarangi, Ururangi, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi and Matariki.

Try out these stellar DIY decor projects using Resene paint.

Matariki star chart

This is a fun and fabulous way to teach kids the story of Matariki while enjoying some cool crafting time. They’ll also be able to proudly display their artwork or gift it to a friend or family member.

Drop cloth
Canvas panel
Resene testpot brush
Resene testpot in Resene White
Star-shaped stickers
Pencil
Low-tack masking tape
PAL Artist Brushes
Resene FX Nightlight
Alphabet stickers

1

Prep the canvas

Apply two coats of your Resene White testpot to the entire canvas, allowing to dry between coats.

2

Map the stars

Place star stickers in the location of each star, then use a pencil to trace around each sticker.

Peel off the stickers once you have traced them all.

3

Mask and seal

Use small pieces of low-tack masking tape to outline your star shapes.

Once you have masked them all, seal the stars with one coat of your Resene White testpot and leave to dry. This will prevent the Resene FX Nightlight from bleeding under the tape when you apply it.

4

Special effects

Apply 2-3 coats of Resene FX Nightlight to each star, leaving to dry between coats.

We also used Resene FX Nightlight to paint a border around the edge of the canvas.

5

What's in a name?

Peel off the masking tape, then use alphabet stickers to name each of the stars.

6

Let it glow!

Turn off the lights and admire your glow-in-the-dark star chart.

Constellation wall mural

Similar but on a larger scale, this project brings the magic of the Matariki star cluster and the Southern Cross constellation to life on the walls of your child’s room with a glow-in-the-dark mural.

Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen waterborne enamel (We used Resene Warrior)
Roller and roller tray
Paintbrushes
Chalk
Resene testpot (We used Resene Black White)
Resene FX Nightlight glow-in the-dark paint

Step 1: First, paint your wall in two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in your Resene colour of choice. We used Resene Warrior to resemble the inky blue of the night sky. Check out our guide to painting a feature wall.

Step 2: Use a photo or diagram as a reference to plan out your design, and mark out the placement of the stars with chalk. Since Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen works just like a chalkboard, simply wipe away the chalk with a damp cloth if you make a mistake.

Step 3: Once you’re happy with the placement of your stars, use a small paintbrush to apply two coats of Resene Black White onto your stars. We chose to make our main stars have eight points each, but feel free to make yours more or less of a traditional star shape to suit your personal tastes.

While you could decide to keep your mural simple, we wanted to give ours more depth during the daylight hours so we painted a random assortment of smaller and larger dots and crosses scattered across our night sky.

Step 4: Finally, apply 2-3 coats of Resene FX Nightlight glow-in-the-dark paint over any stars that you want to shine at night. For the best result, apply three coats, leaving 45-60 minutes between coats. Leave it to ‘charge’ in natural light during the day, and when the lights flick off at night, then your stars will appear. As the night continues, the glow will slowly soften.

Back wall painted in Resene Warrior with stars in Resene Black White, large stars topcoated in Resene FX Nightlight, left wall and floor in Resene Mystic, toy box, floating shelves and wall hook, vases in Resene Half Jumbo, Resene Reservoir, Resene Warrior and Resene Hermitage, star ornament in Resene Metallic Proton, DIY kite mobile in Resene Metallic Proton (hoop), Resene Reservoir (blue kites), Resene Half Jumbo (grey kites) and Resene Black White (white kites) and wooden bead accents in Resene Reservoir. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston. Photography by Bryce Carleton.

Wall painted in Resene Warrior with stars in Resene Black White, large stars topcoated in Resene FX Nightlight, kite mobile in Resene Metallic Proton (hoop), Resene Reservoir (blue kites), Resene Half Jumbo (grey kites) and Resene Black White (white kites). Project by Laura Lynn Johnston. Photography by Bryce Carleton.

DIY kite mobile

Kites, or manu tukutuku, were traditionally used by Māori to symbolise the start of Matariki. This simple mobile is another way to bring the room to life and can be suspended above your baby’s cot.

You will need:

A2 sheet of heavy cardstock (plus another small scrap of cardstock)
Resene testpot brush
Resene testpots in four colours of your choice (We used Resene Metallic Proton, Resene Reservoir, Resene Half Jumbo and Resene Black White)
A macramé hoop (or similar)
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
String or thread
Glue stick or hot glue gun

Step 1: On your A2 sheet of cardstock, see your Resene testpot brush to paint two coats of three of your paint colours, with each covering one third of the sheet. Allow the first coat to dry before applying the second coat. We used Resene Reservoir, Resene Half Jumbo and Resene Black White.

Step 2: While your cardstock is drying, apply two coats of your fourth testpot colour to your macramé hoop, allowing the first to dry before moving on to the second. We used Resene Proton metallic.

Step 3: Use a scrap piece of cardstock or thick paper (about 8cm x 8xm) to create a template for your kites. Fold the scrap in half, then make two cuts away from the fold towards the outer edges of your paper to create a ‘kite’ or diamond shape. From your leftover offcuts, cut a small bowtie shape. This will be used to make the ‘ties’ on the tail of your kite strings.

Step 4: Using a pencil, trace your templates onto your painted paper. For each kite you would like to add to your mobile, you will need four kite shapes and four tie shapes. We made three of each colour for our mobile, so we cut 12 of each shape in each colour.

Step 5: Cut nine 60cm lengths of string or thread. We used a thin cotton string that has a hint of silver woven into it for extra sparkle.

Step 6: Fold each kite shape in half lengthwise with the painted surface facing inward. Use a glue stick or hot glue gun to adhere one half of the backsides of the four kites together in a circle. Before sealing the circle ‘closed’, glue a length of thread through the centre so that approximately 8-10cm dangles out of the bottom and approximately 50cm comes out of the top. Repeat this for all of your kites.

Step 7: Use glue to sandwich the tail string between the unpainted sides of two tie shapes near to the bottom of the kite. Repeat again closer to the end of your string, so that you have two tie shapes on each kite string. Repeat this for all of your kites.

Step 8: Tie the longer lengths of each kite string to your macramé hoop approximately halfway up the string, double knotting to keep it in place. You may choose to alternate the colours of your kites and tie them so that some kites hang lower or higher than others. Slide your knots along the hoop so that your kites are evenly distributed, then gather the free ends of your strings and knot them together. Optional: Tie a small wooden or metal ring at the top of your mobile to make it easier to hang.

Doilies painted in Resene Indian Ink, Resene Midnight Moss, Resene Ocean Waves, Resene Covert, Resene Elephant, Resene Jacarta, Resene Calypso, Resene St Kilda and Resene Gordons Green and wall in Resene Carrara. Project and image by Fleur Thorpe.

DIY doily stars

Kids will love to get involved in this special DIY and make their own star decorations. We’ve used deep blues to represent the night sky, but you can use other bright colours or even shimmery Resene metallics to paint yours. Or could try out colours from the Resene Traditional Māori palette.

You will need: