Whanake mai ngā Mata o Te Ariki! Whanake mai ngā tohu o te tau! Whanake mai Matariki hunga nui! Friday 2nd July, Wharewaka Function Center, Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Fire and Emergency New Zealand as an organisation celebrated Matariki for the first time ever including taking part in Te Hautapu ritual to mark this special occasion for the organisation to demonstrate our commitment to include Te Ao Māori within the organisation. I was blessed to be a part of such an amazing event where Fire and Emergency personnel from operational volunteers, operational paid staff as well as executive officers and staff (including Chief Executive of FENZ Rhys Jones) from around the country gathered together in Wellington to celebrate Matariki! We acknowledged all of the stars and delivered karakia from representatives from the different regions embracing all of their specific acknowledgments/karakia (Pūanga, Matariki) as well as reading out the names of our fellow firefighters (support members, operational and executive officers) who had passed between Matariki of last year to date. Definitely proud to be a part of an amazing organisation that sees the benefit of working collaboratively and embracing some of the Tikanga and Kawa of Te Ao Māori and our different respective Māori communities from around the country. Matariki atua ka eke ki runga Nau mai ngā hua Nau mai ngā taonga Nau mai te Mātahi o te tau. Tūturu whakamaua kia tīna! Tīna! Haumi e. Hui e Taiki e!