Matariki Gift Guide 2026: Thoughtful Picks for the New Year
Matariki marks the rising of a cluster of nine stars, known as the Māori New Year — and with it comes an invitation to pause, gather with whānau, and celebrate the warmth of connection in the depths of winter. Gift-giving is part of that tradition: something considered, made with care, and chosen to carry meaning beyond the unboxing. We have gathered eight picks that do exactly that.
What you'll find in this guide:
- How to choose Matariki gifts that reflect NZ values of craft and provenance
- Warm, practical picks for every age, from newborns to adults
- Products made by hand in Aotearoa, with stories worth sharing
- Gift ideas ranging from $20 to $289 NZD
What is Matariki, and why do we give gifts?
The Pleiades star cluster, known in te reo Māori as Matariki, holds nine named stars, each associated with a different domain of wellbeing: the natural environment, health, kinship, the sea, the sky, and more. The cluster reappears on the northeastern horizon in late June or early July each year, signalling the Māori New Year and a time for remembrance, celebration, and intention-setting for the year ahead. In 2022, Matariki became an official New Zealand public holiday — the first new public holiday in over 40 years, and the first in the world to honour an Indigenous astronomical event.
Gift-giving has grown naturally from the holiday's spirit. The best Matariki gifts mirror what the stars represent: care for the people who matter to you, attention to where things come from, and a preference for things built to last. A well-chosen Matariki gift is not a gesture — it is a small act of looking forward together.
For the littlest whānau members: warmth from the ground up
New Zealand winters are not gentle on small feet. Sheepskin is one of nature's finest insulators, and the Sheepskin Baby Booties | TIKTAK Design Co are made from buttery-soft sheepskin leather and wool, hand-stitched to stay put even on the most wriggly babies and toddlers. Available in three sizes from newborn through to approximately 32 months, they are designed in New Zealand using natural, renewable raw materials and sent in biodegradable packaging. At $50 NZD, they are one of the most considered cold-weather gifts you can give a new parent this Matariki.
For more NZ-made play and warmth ideas, explore the Baby & Kids collection.
Wrap someone in New Zealand wool
Wool grown on Ruanui Station's lambs near Taihape in the Central North Island makes a four-city journey before it becomes a finished blanket: Hawkes Bay for scouring, Wellington to be spun, and Auckland to be woven. Three generations of the same farming family have worked this land. The Totaras Tussock Throw BLANKET | RUANUI STATION is the end of that story: a 150 x 180 cm check-weave throw in earthy tones, its colour named for the paddock the sheep grazed. It is 100% New Zealand-made from start to finish, and at $289 NZD it is the kind of gift used for decades, not seasons.
For something carried into everyday life, the The Wool Bag | THE WOOL POT is another wool story worth knowing. Founded by Nadia, who farms sheep at Royalburn Station, and Polly, a lifelong wool industry professional, The Wool Pot was born of a conviction that wool could replace single-use plastic in commercial gardening. In New Zealand alone, over 350 million plants in plastic pots are produced each year. The Wool Pot offers a natural alternative that breaks down in soil and nourishes the earth. The Wool Bag brings that same thinking into everyday errands: 100% felted wool, 44 x 34 x 13 cm, with reinforced cotton handles and natural insulation that keeps groceries cooler for longer. Available in Forest Green or Navy Blue lining. Explore more in the Bags & Baskets collection.
Light the Matariki table
In the Hawkes Bay, the Hohepa community is built on the Waldorf philosophy: living and working together, with vocational training that helps adults with intellectual disabilities find their potential and live with as much independence as possible. Candle-making is one of several crafts practised at the Hohepa workshops, an ancient skill that rewards patience, care, and a measured working pace.
The Dinner Candles Long | HOHEPA are hand-dipped from 100% locally sourced beeswax with a natural cotton wick. At 30 cm tall, sold two per set, they burn slowly and evenly with the quiet warmth that only pure beeswax provides. Priced at $30 NZD, they make a fitting centrepiece for a Matariki dinner table, or a gift for anyone who gathers people around one. For more on choosing and caring for beeswax candles, see our complete guide to beeswax candles in New Zealand.
Gifts for warmth from the inside
Some of the best winter gifts are the ones you drink. The Spiced Darjeeling | 75g Jar (55 serves) is a winter-made blend: Darjeeling black leaves from the Himalayan foothills, blended with cinnamon and ginger, sourced from Rimpocha: a social enterprise that operates on a partnership rather than ownership model and supports women smallholders through fair trade principles. Each 75 g jar holds 55 cups of warmth, and at $45 NZD it is an accessible gift that keeps giving through the cold months. For tips on brewing loose leaf at its best, our New Zealand loose-leaf tea guide covers water temperature, steeping time, and more.
Pair it with the Tea Timer | REVOLOGY, a wood, glass, and sand hourglass in 3 or 5-minute versions at $20 NZD. It makes the ritual of steeping feel deliberate and unhurried: the right pace for a Matariki morning.
For a more restorative winter blend, the RE+Juvenate | 75g Jar (55 serves) is a warming herbal infusion developed with herbalist Valmai Becker at Phytofarm in Little River. The blend of fennel, cleavers, dandelion root, nettle, oatstraw, and rosehips is traditionally used to ease tired muscles and support the body's natural processes. Herbs are sourced from New Zealand organic growers where possible, with certified organic imports for those that cannot grow in our climate. A quiet gift for someone who could use one.
Something to carry close
For the person who seems to have everything, the Solid Perfumes | AIKU is a gift for the senses. Handmade in Aotearoa by Zuzanna Thornton, each scent is pressed into an eco-conscious tin using organic virgin coconut and olive oils, beeswax, shea butter, and argan oil. Alcohol-free and phthalate-free, the fragrances comply with strict global IFRA standards and sit close to the skin rather than announcing themselves across the room: a more personal, intimate way to wear scent. Seven fragrances are available: Red (saffron, jasmine, amber), White (apple, verbena, sage), Gold (fennel, cardamom, sandalwood), Rose (pistachio, jasmine, caramel), Silver (lemon, amber, vanilla), Black (gardenia, cacao, oud), and Silver. At $30 NZD, it is the kind of gift you tuck into a Matariki card and hand to someone with intention.
Matariki gifts at a glance
| Gift | Price NZD | Best for | NZ made / sourced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheepskin Baby Booties | TIKTAK Design Co | $50 | Babies & toddlers | Designed in NZ |
| Totaras Tussock Throw BLANKET | RUANUI STATION | $289 | Adults, home | 100% NZ Made |
| The Wool Bag | THE WOOL POT | $145 | Everyday carriers | NZ-founded brand |
| Dinner Candles Long | HOHEPA | $30 | Table & host gifts | Made in Hawkes Bay |
| Spiced Darjeeling | 75g Jar (55 serves) | $45 | Tea lovers | Ethical Darjeeling source |
| Tea Timer | REVOLOGY | $20 | Brew enthusiasts | Wood, glass & sand |
| RE+Juvenate | 75g Jar (55 serves) | $45 | Wellness-focused | NZ herbs + organic imports |
| Solid Perfumes | AIKU | $30 | Fragrance lovers | Handmade in Aotearoa |
Frequently asked questions
When is Matariki in 2026?
Matariki falls in late June or early July each year, timed to the reappearance of the Matariki star cluster on the northeastern horizon just before sunrise. The exact date shifts slightly each year based on the lunar calendar. The Matariki public holiday was established in New Zealand in 2022 as the first new public holiday in over 40 years. To ensure delivery in time for the celebrations, we recommend placing your order by mid-June.
What makes a good Matariki gift?
Matariki is a time for remembrance, celebration, and looking ahead together. Gifts that reflect those values tend to be made with care, sourced with intention, and built to last more than a season. Natural materials, local makers, and things that carry a story sit well with the spirit of the occasion. Food, warmth, and fragrance all have a place at a Matariki table.
What is a good Matariki gift for a new baby?
The Sheepskin Baby Booties | TIKTAK Design Co are made from 100% natural sheepskin, hand-stitched, and available in three sizes from newborn to approximately 32 months. They keep tiny feet warm without any synthetic materials close to sensitive skin, are designed sustainably in New Zealand, and come in recyclable, biodegradable packaging.
Are the products at Revology made in New Zealand?
Many are. The Totaras Tussock Throw BLANKET | RUANUI STATION, the Dinner Candles Long | HOHEPA, and the Solid Perfumes | AIKU are all made in New Zealand by independent makers. Others, such as the Spiced Darjeeling tea, are chosen for their ethical provenance and fair trade credentials rather than their country of origin.
How much should I spend on a Matariki gift?
Revology's Matariki picks range from a $20 Tea Timer | REVOLOGY or a $30 pair of Dinner Candles Long | HOHEPA, to the $289 Totaras Tussock Throw BLANKET | RUANUI STATION for a more significant gesture. The most meaningful gifts tend to hold a story, at any price.
Where can I find more gift ideas at Revology?
The Living collection covers homewares and everyday objects, and the Baby & Kids collection has more picks for little ones. Our New Zealand gift guide covers a wider range of occasions and recipients.
Whatever you choose to give this Matariki, let it say something true: that you noticed, that you cared, and that you took the time to find something made with intention. Browse the full range at revologyconceptstore.nz.
By The Revology Team