Come and celebrate the days getting longer!
 

The 2021 Winter Solstice in Wellington will happen at 3:32pm on 21 June, so let's celebrate the days getting longer (more daylight for cache-hunting!), with food, drink, good company, and maybe a new cache or two .

What is the winter solstice?
 

Wikipedia:

The winter solstice, hiemal solstice or hibernal solstice occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. At the pole, there is continuous darkness or twilight around the winter solstice. Its opposite is the summer solstice. Also the Tropic of Cancer or Tropic of Capricorn depending on the hemispheres winter solstice the sun goes 90 degrees below the horizon at solar midnight to the nadir.

The winter solstice occurs during the hemisphere's winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the December solstice (usually December 21 or 22) and in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the June solstice (usually June 20 or 21). Although the winter solstice itself lasts only a moment, the term sometimes refers to the day on which it occurs. Other names are the "extreme of winter" (Dongzhi), or the "shortest day". Since the 18th century, the term "midwinter" has sometimes been used synonymously with the winter solstice, although it carries other meanings as well. Traditionally, in many temperate regions, the winter solstice is seen as the middle of winter, but today in some countries and calendars, it is seen as the beginning of winter.

Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures, and has been marked by festivals and rituals. It marked the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days.

Matariki

Matariki is one of the most important Māori celebrations. It signifies the start of the New Year in Māori culture.

Matariki is the name for a star cluster also known as the Pleiades, that rises in late June or early July. It literally translates in English to the 'eyes of god' or 'little eyes'.

In 2021, Matariki will be celebrated between 19 June and 11 July, coinciding with the winter solstice.

The event
 

Let's gather at Khandallah Trading Company, a favourite location for geocaching events.

Where: Corner of Ganges Road and Agra Crescent, Khandallah

When: 20 June, 12pm - 2pm

Getting there: Khandallah is serviced by Bus routes 24 and 25. These terminate 2 minutes walk away in Dekka Street by the New World Supermarket, or if you're coming by train the venue is a short walk from Boxhill station.

Will attend: Please log your will-attends with numbers so that I can let KTC know how many people to expect.