Ngā hua o Matariki

In our recent staff meeting, Matua Pine led us in a beautiful celebration of Te Tau Hou Māori, the Māori New Year. Matua Pine began by sharing his own Matariki celebration with his whānau, bringing the occasion to life with stories and newspaper clippings that captured the essence of this special time.

As part of the celebration, Matua Pine demonstrated the traditional Māori string craft known as whai. With impressive skill, he created various star and diamond patterns. The intricate designs he crafted were a visual reminder of the rich cultural heritage that Matariki represents.

Following this, we moved outside into the labyrinth, where trees are planted to represent each of the stars in the Matariki cluster. As we gathered around each tree, the team from He Ūkaipō led an interactive activity that helped us reflect on the significance of each whetu and what they represent. This experience deepened our understanding of the connections between the natural world and the spiritual aspects of Matariki.

We concluded the celebration with a short Matariki-themed quiz followed by a waiata that brought us together in song. The gathering was a meaningful reminder of the importance of Matariki and the unity it fosters within our community.

⭐💜