In observing tikanga / Te Ao Māori cultural guidance we have been advised to include kai at the end of the festival process, rather than soup at the beginning. For 2024 these will be star biscuits for tamariki, rangatahi, whānau and community.

The role of kai

The final act of the festival is to share kai (food). This is an essential part of the more formal / ceremony process as it lifts any tapu (sacred, sacrosanct) aspects that have been part of the preceding formalities. We include it in our festival too as the sharing of kai is a time-honoured way to ‘break the ice’ and begin new relationships.

Adapted from Whakatau ~ Welcome - Ara