As the sun stands in perfect balance between night and day, cultures around the world — and across time — have celebrated this celestial moment. At Stonehenge Aotearoa, the September Equinox invites us to reconnect with the sky, reflect on the change of season, and explore ancient and modern ways of understanding the cosmos.
What is an Equinox?
An equinox is a special moment that happens twice a year — in March and September — when the Sun shines directly over Earth’s equator, making day and night nearly the same length all around the world; this marks the changing of the seasons, such as the beginning of spring in Aotearoa New Zealand in September, and is celebrated at places like Stonehenge Aotearoa, where the Sun’s position aligns with the stone circle, just as ancient cultures once observed to honour balance, change, and new beginnings.
The Spring Equinox at Stonehenge Aotearoa
The Spring Equinox on September 23, 2025, marks the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, creating nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness all around the world. In Aotearoa New Zealand, it signals the first day of spring — a time of renewal, planting, and balance. At 12:20 PM NZDT, the Sun will rise due east and set due west, aligning perfectly with the design of Stonehenge Aotearoa, just as ancient structures were built to track seasonal changes. Many cultures have long celebrated the equinox as a symbol of harmony and new beginnings, and in te reo Māori, this seasonal shift marks an important time for growth, reflection, and preparation for the months ahead.