Hāngi, games, and a time to remember our loved ones.

On Saturday the 22nd of July, Cultural and Service student leaders and Kapa Haka organised a Matariki event at Roncalli College. A big thanks goes out to the Roncalli Whānau group who got the hāngi dug, prepared, cooked and served! It was fantastic to see all the tamariki and whānau coming down to share kai and get involved in all the activities.

What we did to get it organised: we spent Friday and Saturday preparing our kai and preparing the hāngi bags. On Friday we dug the hole and then on Saturday morning we lit the fire, we then put the hāngi down at around 12 and let it cook for around 4 hours.

How we celebrate Matariki: We celebrate this by coming together with friends and whanau and spend time together going over the things that happened in the year. We can read the stars to have an idea of what our year is going to be like.

What is Matariki? Matariki is the Māori New Year, or ‘Tiny Eyes,’ or ‘the Eyes of God.’ It is also the Māori name for a constellation of stars and is the shoulder of Taurus, a bull. When Matariki reappears in Late May/Early June, it is a sign of a change in season to winter.

Matariki is a time to celebrate Aotearoa and everything Māori.