Stonehenge Aotearoa, Modern astronomical observatory in Wairarapa, New Zealand.

Stonehenge Aotearoa is a modern astronomical observatory in Wairarapa with a diameter of about 30 meters, featuring 24 concrete pillars, lintels, and a central obelisk. The site serves as an open-air learning center where visitors can observe celestial alignments directly on the ground.

The Phoenix Astronomical Society constructed this modern observatory over two years, with its official opening in 2005 by Nobel Laureate Alan MacDiarmid. The project combines traditional astronomical concepts with contemporary infrastructure for science education.

The name Aotearoa is the Māori name for New Zealand. The 24 pillars are not evenly spaced: seen from the centre they point to navigational stars used by early Polynesian voyagers, forming a star compass. The sculpture "Fingers of Mother Earth" marks where the heliacal rising of Matariki, the Māori New Year, is seen near the June solstice.

Access is available on weekends and public holidays, with special programs for nighttime observations and astronomy learning activities. It is advisable to bring warm clothing, as the location is in an open setting and nighttime temperatures can drop.

Six heel stones of varying heights mark the exact positions of sunrise and sunset during solstices and equinoxes. These stones connect ancient timekeeping methods with modern education and show how precisely old cultures observed the sky.