As we move to the second year of celebrating Matariki, including a public holiday on Friday 14 July, we have home-grown liturgies and other resources to help us mark Matariki... plus an invitation to learn an expression of hope - kaikōhau - in te reo Māori.

Neighbours Aotearoa

Have a look at this websitefor some great ideas on how you can celebrate Matariki, including some postcards you can order for your church, or for yourself to share with others. 

Learn kaikōhau

Kaikōhau means to express your hopes and desires. When you say it, you are welcoming all things that are good and wishing for them to be plentiful in times to come. ‘Hua’ (fruits) references all things that are good. This can be the food laid out in front of you, it can be your mahi (work), health, whānau and friends, and many other things in your life that you hope to be fruitful and abundant.

It’s great to say during Matariki celebrations as you prepare for the new year ahead, but it is not limited to only this time. It can be used in many other situations, as described above.

This Matariki say the kaikōhau at your kaitahi and share your hopes for the Māori new year with your whānau, friends and whomever else you invite to the table.

Nau mai ngā hua  Welcome all things that have grown
Nau mai ngā pai  Welcome all things that are good
Nau mai kia nuiKia hāwere ai  May they be plentiful and abundant

For more, see Learn kaikōhau - Te Rangaihi Reo Māori (reomaori.co.nz)

Liturgies for Matariki

The liturgies developed by All Saints Dunedin have been reviewed and approved for use within Tikanga Pakeha faith communities. 

Attached below are Word and .pdf versions for use in your own settings. Thanks again to the team at All Saints Dunedin North Parish for this wonderful gift, not only to our Diocese, but to others throughout Aotearoa-New Zealand.

An example of one of the Collectes from Matariki liturgy IV: From generation to generation/Thanksgiving for Whakapapa follows:

Collect

Let us pray.
Gracious God, as we contemplate the stars of Matariki,
we clearly see that every part of Creation has its origin and purpose in you.
We give you thanks that you have given life to our ancestors, grandparents and parents,
so that they may transmit life to us.
You have also filled them with good things so we may inherit them by knowing you,
adoring you, and serving you.
Bless us as we give thanks for those who have gone before us.
Bestow your graces abundantly upon our ancestors, grandparents and parents,
so that we may in our turn inherit their blessings.
We ask this through Jesus Christ
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God now and forever. Amen 

What the stars of Matariki mean

• Matariki is the star that signifies reflection, hope, our connection to the environment, and the gathering of people. Matariki is also connected to the health and wellbeing of people.
• Waitī is associated with all fresh water bodies and the food sources that are sustained by those waters.
• Waitā is associated with the ocean, and food sources within it.
• Waipuna-ā-rangi is associated with the rain.
• Tupuānuku is the star associated with everything that grows within the soil to be harvested or gathered for food.
• Tupuārangi is associated with everything that grows up in the trees: fruits, berries, and birds.
• Ururangi is the star associated with the winds.
• Pōhutukawa is the star associated with those that have passed on.
• Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the star associated with granting our wishes, and realising our aspirations for the coming year.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Toanga  has a story on Celebrating hautapu during Matariki which talks about some of the other ways Matariki can be celebrated in our communities.