As Matariki rises in the winter skies above Aotearoa, we invite you to join us as we welcome the beginning of the Māori New Year – a time rich in tradition, reflection, and connection.

This year we are aiming for our Matariki celebration to be at school. We had booked the War Memorial Hall but it is now unclear whether it will be available - so please prepare for rain - umbrellas, raincoats etc. Students who are performing will do so under the bleachers so will have some protection - but the audience will be on the field. We will put a few chairs out for those needing to sit - please do invite the whole whānau - we love to see grandparents on these days.

We will have some performances and presentations for you from our students. We will have our sausage sizzle happening, along with milo and fruit. Please make sure you BYO a cup for the milo - this makes things super easy.

Part of our celebration will include acknowledging any loved ones who have passed away since last year's Matariki and this year's. We will have pieces of paper where you can write the names of those lost. There will be a box to put the paper in and the names will be read out . They will be buried here at school under one of our Pōhutukawas. Pōhutukawa is the star most closely connected to those who have passed away.

At our kura we will acknowledge Puanga, as well as Matariki. All iwi celebrate the Māori New Year in June or July, but not all iwi refer specifically to this time of year as Matariki. Instead, other iwi will name this time of year ‘Puanga’ - and this includes our iwi - Te Kawerau a Maki.

Puanga is given prominence mainly because some iwi struggle to see Matariki clearly from their locality and therefore look to the next important star near Matariki. That star is Puanga. Puanga is the star Rigel and is the brightest star in the Orion constellation. Matariki is seen below Puanga and to the left of Tautoru (the three stars of Orion’s Belt) in the late autumn and early winter night sky.

The most common whakataukī that recognises the importance of Puanga is:

Puanga kai rau ; The abundant harvest of Puanga.

Reminder - the following Friday of that week, 20th June, is a public holiday. There are many events that you can join in over this period. On the public holiday itself (Friday 20th June) there is MATARIKI ON THE ROOF, 6am to 7.30am | FREE EVENT - REGISTRATION ESSENTIAL - Gather before sunrise on the rooftop terrace at Lopdell House to view ngā whetū o Matariki in the dark morning sky, guided by Auckland Astronomical Society. There is also a Matariki Festival being held at Te Atatū Peninsula Community Centre on Thursday 17th June and a Titirangi Matariki concert on Sunday 22nd June. Check out https://www.matarikifestival.org.nz/ for more amazing Matariki experiences.