On Sunday 21 June 2026, the sun reaches its lowest point in our sky here in Aotearoa. This is the winter solstice, our shortest day and longest night, and one of the oldest celebrations on earth.
This week begins with the Solstice: one of the great turning points of the year
'This week begins with the Solstice: one of the great turning points of the year
It’s the start of Summer or, Winter, if you live south of the equator
In the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the height of light before the gradual return of longer nights. In the Southern Hemisphere, it signals the quiet promise that brighter days are beginning to return.
Either way, the message is the same:
Nothing stands still. Life moves in cycles of growth, release, reflection and renewal.
Why We Celebrate
Long before clocks and calendars, our ancestors lived by the rhythm of the sun. The solstice marked a turning point they could rely on, a moment when the darkness stopped deepening and the light began its slow return. Communities gathered to light fires, share food, and give thanks, trusting that the light always finds its way back.
The Science of the Season
The reason for shorter winter days and longer summer days comes down to the tilt of the earth as it orbits the sun. When the Southern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun, our days shorten, reaching their peak around 21 June. From that point on, the tilt shifts back, and our days slowly lengthen again toward summer.
The Arrival of Matariki
A few weeks after the solstice, something deeply special unfolds. The star cluster Matariki, known internationally as the Pleiades, makes its first reappearance in our Aotearoa, NZ early morning sky after fading from view in autumn.
In 2026, this rising falls between 6 and 13 July, with the public holiday marked on Friday 10 July.
Matariki means the eyes of Tāwhirimātea, the Māori god of Weather. Welcoming this star cluster home marks the beginning of the Maori New Year, a time for remembering loved ones, gathering with whanau, and setting intentions for the months ahead.
Intentions to Hold
Every Solstice, whether winter or summer, is an invitation to align with a single theme 'Release and Renewal in Rhythm with the Light.'
For Sunday, 21 June 2026
"I release what I no longer need, and I trust the quiet as a place of healing."
This is a time for rest rather than push. Gentler movement, more sleep, warming foods, and slower mornings support the body. Reflection and quiet meditation suit the spirit better than big goal setting.
For Matariki on 10 July 2026
"I welcome home what has been missing, and I set my course for the year ahead."
As the stars return, this becomes a time for remembering, gathering, and setting clear intentions for the year to come.
The thread that ties them together
"I move in harmony with the season I am in, trusting that both the dark and the light are part of my wholeness."
Held across these two dates, this intention lets the Solstice do its quiet work of release, while Matariki carries that stillness forward into renewal and new beginnings.
The Solstice - a magical moment in time
This Season, with the Solstice and Matariki arriving so closely together, offers us a rare and beautiful window. It is a moment to reflect on the year that has passed, to release what no longer serves us, and to recalibrate our path forward with clarity and intention.
The earth pauses in its tilt, the stars return to the sky, and we are gently invited to pause too.
Take this time to honour both the dark and the light within you, knowing that every ending carries the seed of a new beginning.
