Matariki celebration at school on Friday 30th June (last day of term)
Matariki is officially celebrated on Friday 14th July this year, which is in the school holidays. We are going to celebrate on the last day of this term with a craft afternoon of making lanterns and stars and the junior and senior kapa haka groups will perform. In the morning, the tamariki and staff will make some shared kai (soup) to have alongside their lunch. You are invited to come along from 1.00pm if you would also like to have lunch with your child/children and then join in with the arts and crafts from around 1.30pm to enjoy this with your tamariki.
Twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year. For Māori, the appearance of Matariki heralds a time of remembrance, joy and peace. It is a time for communities to come together and celebrate. In the 2000s, it became more common for both Māori and Pākehā to celebrate Matariki. From 2022, a public holiday marking Matariki will be held in June or July each year.
What is Matariki all about?
Traditionally, Matariki is the period of time in Te Ao Māori to mark the changing of the year. It is a time to reflect upon the previous year and plan for the next. The common Māori translation of Matariki is “eyes of the god”.
Remembrance (the past) - Honoring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki and celebrating the people who have made us who we are.
Celebrating the present - Gathering together, sharing, being grateful.
Looking to the future - making plans, preparing for the coming season, setting goals, hopes dreams and wishes for the future.
Tirama Mai - lights event in the city
Living by the Stars - Dr Rangi Mātāmua - follow on Facebook