This year, the village comes together to mark Matariki Ki Te Hau Kapua with a season of celebration, light and community. From Monday 1 June, you'll start to see the village glow as shop windows fill with lanterns and Matariki stars, all part of a wider programme bringing whānau, businesses and schools together for the season. It's a simple, beautiful way to mark Matariki, and it transforms the feel of the village, especially after dark.

At the heart of it is the Matariki Star Trail, running from Monday 8 June through to Wednesday 8 July. Tamariki from nine local schools have designed nine beautiful Matariki stars, one for each whetū in the cluster, working within templates created by artist Terehia Walker. The stars will be hidden in shop windows along Victoria Road for the duration of the trail. Pick up an entry form from the Devonport Library, head up the road hunting for the stars, write down which shop each one is in, and drop your entry back at the library by 5pm Wednesday 8 July, to go in the draw to win a $300 voucher from a Devonport business of your choice. It's a lovely walk at any time of day, but there's something special about doing it in the early evening when the lanterns and displays are lit up. It's the kind of outing that works for all ages, from little ones spotting stars in shopfronts to older tamariki figuring out the meanings behind each whetū.

The schools involved are Bayswater Primary, Belmont Primary, Belmont Intermediate, Devonport Primary, Hauraki Primary, Stanley Bay Primary, St Leo's Primary, Takapuna Grammar and Vauxhall Primary.

Alongside the trail, you'll spot lanterns and Matariki displays in the windows of local businesses across the village, helping create a warm, connected village experience after dark. For those coming from outside Devonport, it's a great excuse to hop on the ferry and make an evening of it. Twelve minutes across the harbour and you're in a completely different world. Walk the star trail with the kids, grab dinner at one of Devonport's fantastic restaurants, and enjoy the village at its most atmospheric. Matariki in Devonport is one of those experiences that feels both intimate and special, and it's all free.

The Star Trail is brought to you by the Devonport Business Association and Jo Holsted, community activator taitonga, with star templates by Terehia Walker and the individual stars designed by tamariki at the nine local schools. A huge thank you to everyone involved for helping bring this together. The full programme of Matariki events, dates and details is being hosted at devonport.co.nz, and updates will be shared across  Devonport Village social channels in the lead-up. If you're not already following along, now's a great time to jump on so you don't miss anything as it rolls out.

We hope to see you in the village this Matariki. Mānawatia a Matariki.