This is not a normal year. In Ōtepoti Dunedin we usually celebrate the Māori New Year through a diverse citywide programme of community events – communities will gather to celebrate the season at shared feasts, fun and educational programmes, and through a wide range of Mātauraka Māori and Toi Māori events.

Just as the planning of this year’s Dunedin Puaka Matariki Festival kicked into top gear, the brakes were put on: stemming the spread of mate korona (COVID-19) forced us all into lockdown.

During that period of protection and reflection, Festival organisers made the decision to move the 2020 programme onto the digital marae – keeping our hāpori safe from potential resurgent transmission of mate korona prompted a reimagining of how we might continue to wānaka (share knowledge) and whakawhanaukataka (build community) in these unusual times.

This year our celebration is virtual, delivered through the Festival’s website matarikidunedin.co.nz, via social media, and over the airways on OAR FM. There are video tutorials, reading resources, links to programmes at cultural institutions across the motu, and much more.

The festival ran on-line from 13-20 July. Nau mai, tautimai – everyone is welcome to visit the website!