Matariki ahunga nui. This photo was taken at sunrise on Whitireia and Matariki disappeared from view. . This was the first time, as a Pākehā, that I have celebrated Matariki. My te reo Māori class prepared a hangi the night before and drove up in time to see Mataraki before the sun rose. There were karakia and karanga to the stars, followed by kai. I find it incredibly difficult to describe the feeling, the wairua, the importance of that experience and can't believe it took me this long, as a person born and raised in Aotearoa, he tangata Tiriti, to experience it. I will never forget that morning and will be celebrating Matariki every year.
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