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Matariki 2021

We encouraged people to share a meal with loved ones and colleagues and learn and recite kaikōhau to bring in the Māori new year.

2023

Photo is of my Kura celebrating our annual Matariki House Kapa Haka competition. The Video is of the school having a whole school hangi on the same day. We are doing the karakia before our kaitahi. Individual hangi packs with fried bread for each student and staff member. Even our school cleaners got home to take home.

Te Ao

My famous lemon shortbread always a matariki treat and my fryed bread with real butter and golden syrup %100 delicious

Kendell

Hubby and I were scooting around Auckland and saw the lights at Britomart. To our surprise, there were art pieces representing the stars of Matariki throughout the area. Tino ataahua! !

Sharon

We had a dawn karakia at our local museum before celebrating with waiata and kai

Emma

I printed the kaikohau out and gave to each of my friends before we shared kai. We each took turns saying it and helping each other with our pronunciation. Was very cool and everyone has learnt something new

Hannah

Kia ora I am a cultural consultant at the Auckland womans correction facility in Wiri Tamaki Makaurau. I work alongside clinicians (kaimahi) who are all none Maori and have little knowledge in regards to Matariki. I suggested that we have kaitahi to celebrate Matariki. Kaimahi were asked to bring something from Tangaroa or Huawhenua or Huarakau Menu muscles fish heads, baked fish, kina oysters mutton bird huawhenua puha watercress Kumara salad potato salad vegetable platter vegetable soup. Apple pie, peach and blueberry muffins. Fried bread with real butter. I was able to use the information provided on the TWOA website about Matariki as a guide i presented the slide show you have provided online to our kaimahi. We harvested harakeke and i taught our kaimahi how to make a whetu. We also did a quiz that I found on the Te Papa website whoever got the most questions right got a prize. We had a great day celebrating Matariki and our kaimahi have a better understanding. Manawatia te Matariki

Mahina

Tētahi o ngā whakanuitanga Matariki i te kura o Papatoetoe Ki te Tonga, ko te parakuihi Matariki.

Erana

Titirangi maunga best place to see matariki

Ngapuhi

On my matariki moment my whanau and I had a Late night matariki dinner! I used these kaikohau on the dinner table as me and my whanau had dinner. We enjoyed our kai as we had hangi ! ! What I myself took away from this korero is myself learning new kupu also learning what it meant and how to Express the kupu when announcing it. Also were you can use this kaikohau. I really did enjoy watching the video and now I can add these new kupu - kaikohau to my Kete I now have passed the kaikohau to my whanau. Which they are proudly using the kupu before they go mahi! Also before we have a kai ! ! I am so privileged to have learnt this ! ! I am proud to be a Strong young Rangatahi Tane ! ! ! Being A PROUD MAAORI ! Amine Pahiri : Nga mihi:

Amine

CELEBRATING MATARIKI with my beautiful whanau at the Toll stadium whangarei with Moana movie and amazing fireworks 🎆🎇❤️🎇🎆 making memories and loving life! ! !

claudia

Yummy Kai cooked by my son, we all say around our tēpu, sharing our wishes for the new year and be grateful for the year that has passed. Mānawatia a Matariki.

Liz

Sharing our #KaiTahi gathering at Kāramuramu Kindergarten here in Murupara which included whānau from Galatea, Te Whaiti, Minginui and Kaingaroa. This was an open community event and this years theme was Te Waka o Rangi - Kāramuramu Kindergarten Matariki Celebration ‘Connect, Reflect & Share’ – ‘Noho tahi, whakaaro tahi, kia kotahi’

Mere

Tamariki from Koraunui School saying Mānawatia a Matariki. Last day of kura for the term, we finished off with a shared kai and a beautiful day for eating outside. Tamariki have been doing lots of mahi about Matariki.

Liz

My team and I (from mahi) went out for dinner lastnight. We went out to celebrate and commemorate our time as a team as unfortunately our teams are all changing as of Monday 12th July. We've been a team for nearly 4 months and rapidly become a close knit team. At dinner lastnight I talked about Matariki and the concept of Kaikōhau. We went around the table sharing oyr hopes and goals for the year to come. When all our food arrived we did the Kaikōhau Karakia and talked through the Reo Pākēhā translation. All 7 of my staff identify as non-māori so to see them share their hopes and goals, be open to learning about Matariki and sharing kai and time together as a team is something within my role, I'm really proud of.

Tamara

Celebrating Matariki at my school with kai and kapa haha

Ashleigh

This year I wrote a play for the men in The Waiata group at Christchurch Mens prisons Drug treatment Programme to perform in front of the whole unit. The ceremony will involve Karakia, Mihimihi, Pūrakau a kēmu named Pako, Matariki waiata and waiata like E ngaki kerikeri and the Haka Ko te reo Māori. The ceremony will finish with a boil up to feed 60 men.

Shanan

Thats my Matariki moment - Whanau

Joey

I work at Auckland DHB and was part of an awesome little team that facilitated our Matariki moment for all kaimahi Māori @ ADHB with a hangi! We then had guest speakers impart their stories with us. It was by Māori, for Māori and our wairua soared! We are proud to be Māori #Matariki2021

Moana

I went to the waterfront festival with an old friend. We roasted marshmallows with our community and took beautiful photos of the lights.

Min

I always Greet Te whanau Matariki in the early morning of Pipiri

Kate

Our whānau went to Ahi Kā as part of the Matariki ki Pōneke festival. Lots of things to see and do, and we had yummy kai together.

Janice

Our Matariki kaikōhau for our kaitahi in room 7

Tania

I te aranga o Puanga i hautapu mātou ko te whānau o Hokianga i te ata tu o te ra. I hāngi ngā hua a tupuārangi a tupuānuku. I tukua ngā mate ki pohutukawa. I mahia te inu kumarahou hei whakanui i a puanga. I mahia te manuaute hei whakanui i a ururangi. I tukua ngā wawata o te tau hei whakanui i a Hiwa i te rangi. He maha ngā hua. He rangi atāhua.

Lorinda

Kia ora, this submission is for Riria Ropata and myself 😁. Every year as part of Whakatupuranga Rua Mano (a kura a iwi in Otaki) we celebrate Matariki. The day starts with karanga and karakia at 6am. The kura then send their wishes for the new year to the heavens via the fire. Lanterns are also released to heavens representing our prayers/kōrero to those that that have past. Kura teina perform kapahaka for the mātua and then a hakari is devoured. This year was extra special with Matariki and the hook of Maui sparkling in the sky. Ngā mihi Larisa Winterburn & Riria Ropata

Larisa

Hakari ending Matariki Hautapu at Irongate School, Flaxmere early this morning.

Karen

Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi Mānawa maiea te mātahi o te tau Ko Tongariro te maunga Ko Taupo nui a tia te moana Ko Tuwharetoa te iwi Ko Te Heu heu te tangata Ko Shara Tira Wahine Hartley tōku ingoa Ngā mihi o te wā Hail the rise of Matariki Hail the sky father Hail the New Year Tongariro is my mountain Taupo is my lake Tuwharetoa is my tribe Te Heu heu is the man I am Shara Tira wahine Hartley I would like to thankyou all in helping me celebrate Matariki by sharing our pūrākau/stories, new beginnings in our culturally diverse workplace with this tā koha kai. I don't claim to be an expert on the topic but I would like to share with you my cultural heritage and some research I have collected whilst on my Te Reo journey. I te tuatahi Ngā mihi nunui ki TWOA rāua ko Rangi Mataamua mo ngā rangahau, ko Rahira Davies rātou ko Maisey Rika, ko Maimoa ngā kaiwaiata o ngā waiata a Matariki tino ataahua rawa atu. The appearance of Matariki in the mid-winter morning sky marks the Maori New Year or Te mātahi o te tau. The arrival of Matariki is a sign for people to gather, to honour the dead, celebrate the present and plan for the future. Our Tipuna/ancestors, astronomy was interwoven into all facets of life. This knowledge was recorded and handed down from generation to generation as part of our maori oral traditions for e. g. Pūrākau, waiata and karakia. Matariki is connected to seasonal activities such as planting and harvesting, the flowering of plants, the spawning of fish and the natural cycles of the environment. There are 9 stars in the Matariki cluster: Matariki - Signifies reflextion, hope, the gathering of people and their health and well being. Pōhutukawa - signifies the loved ones we have lost. Waitī - is connected with all fresh water bodies and food sources sustained by those waters. Waitā - is associated with the ocean and its food sources with in it. Waipunārangi - is connected with the rain. Tupuānuku - is the star connected to all which is grown in its soil and the harvesting of food. Tupuārangi - is connected with everything that grows up in trees such as fruit, berries and birds. Ururangi - is the star connected to the winds of Tawhirimatea. Hiwa i te rangi - is the star connected to granting our wishes and realising our aspirations for the coming year. I appreciate all of those who have contributed to this special occassion. Ka nui te aroha, e tino miharo rawa atu kia kōutou katoa. Lets give thanks: Nau mai nga hua Nau mai nga pai Nau mai kia nui Kia hāwere ai Welcome all things that have grown Welcome all things that are good May they be plentiful and abundant Mauri ora, Me kaitahi tātou Let's eat ! ! !

Shara

Over the past two years, our small team of tau iwi librarians has been engaging with our University of Otago's Māori Strategic Framework, so we can better support our Māori students as they learn and research across the University. As part of this mahi, we gathered as a team this Matariki. We spoke about Puaki Matariki (as we celebrate it in Ōtepoti | Dunedin), and said a kaikōhau together both in Te Reo Māori and in a variety of our ancestral languages. We also launched a resource guide to support the team on their continuing journey, and then shared a kai together. A big mihi to our Māori colleagues in the Library and the wider University for their support and kōrero on the journey, and to our executive manager who has been incredibly supportive of the mahi. What an awesome way to mark te tau hou! #kaitahi #kaikohau Manawatia Matariki!

Alexander

Had beautiful kai with family and just thought about things very special time

Peter

The morning of the start of the new year, Tiniwaitara marae

Ara

Taken on the peak of Pukematekeo on the morning of our Matariki karakia. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae.

Juneea

My matariki moment is always at 5. 30pm my whanau no its kai time, no phones allowed at the table, before we have kai we bless our kai and the many hands that prepared our kai to give our body strength. While we part take in kai, each of us have turns to say anything about their day sad, happy, glimpsey or even a pukuriri day, in some cases we give our advice like we are certified counsellors social workers even a doctor best part of sharing kai and our day we leave it at the table. So sharing our each night is the best part of my whanau day kai will always prevail, Matariki is everyday in my house the good the bad even the ugly

Marama

Matariki display at Te Rauparaha Arena ki Porirua with my akonga for noho marae. Was beautifully done and aimed at all ages, young to old. I'm learning Te Reo at Te Wananga o Aotearoa ki Porirua and the journey has been more than just Te Reo. It's opened up a whole new world to me and Matariki is a part of it and my learning Journey. Putting my wishes and dreams to become fluent to Hiwa-i-te-rangi.

Melissa

We gather in the elements of light of the sun and the freshness of the air the sea and the waves giving life to the birds who soar above us and fish who swim below. We are blessed. We wish for our precious oceans and oceanlife, our wildlife our air to be protected and stay healthy. Matariki shines on us all. Happy Matariki

claire

I made a matching game using the Matariki stars and my tamariki at kura really love it that we spent the whole day playing with it. They know what they are and we even talk about the meaning of each stars and the importance of celebrating Matariki.

Upu

Kia ora koutou katoa, Our Matariki Celebration Evening commenced with a rousing Kapa Haka performance followed by student-led workshops - poi waiata, poi rākau games, digital pepeha, Matariki arts and crafts, tāonga by torchlight and culminating in a whānau Matariki waiata and hangi. Within all of the celebrations, the messages of kaikōhau were shared ' Nau mai ngā hua, Nau mai ngā pai, Nau mai kia nui, Kia hawere ai'. Ko te whakataukī mō tēnei hui - “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi - Engari, he toa takitini" Involving over 200+ students and their whānau it was a special night to remember and enjoy. Ngā mihi o Matariki!

Tirina

This year we wanted to learn more about the 9 Matariki Stars a bit more in depth. With some recycled wood our Kindy tamariki designed and painted with glow in the dark paint each star connecting to what it represents. The stars have been scattered throughout 4 rural communities. We the kaiako have set up a scavenger hunt with a clue sheet for our whanau to do as a family.

Laurie

Me (moko kauae) and our kaimahi celebrating Matariki for the first time at mahi. 🤩

Turina

Matariki celebrations at Te Wananga Takiura. Ahurewa 300, these are our year 3 (their final year) Teaching degree students, celebrating Matariki by gifting all teaching and admin staff with Hangi ❤️ Te ataahua. So grateful for these beautiful tauira of ours

Tee

i made a boil up and made up a tune to the kaikōhau while doing kai mahi. i love being māori

waiongana

this was our matariki day and it was an special one for someone that has pass away in 2014 and it was for my sister, who pass away with cancer that year

khan

I has actually decided to order hangi on uber eat on matariki what an good night to eat it on

khan

Today one of our kaiako finished at school. As part of her celebration we held assembly and had a shared afternoon tea with our community. 4 of my senior students (year 6&7) shared kaikōhau to all our students and community, and explained its meaning. It was such a great moment sharing knowledge and māori culture. (I forget to video it) but was super proud of my students opting to learn new reo and having a go.

Lisa

In Arrowtown / Kāmuriwai the local preschool holds an event for Matariki on the village green, our waiatatia group tautoko the mihi and my daughters kapa haka group performed 4 waiata & a haka. Other local schools kapa haka groups also perform. There was kai and a band also. Its a yearly event everyone in the community gathers and supports, another way our wee town looks after each other. Aio ki te Rangi Aio ki te Pāpa Aio ki nga mea Katoa Tihei Mauri Ora. 💖 Tino nga mihi Fiona

Fiona

Tērā a Matariki, ka rewa i te pae, nau mai haere mai te mātahi o te tau, te tau hou Māori e. Parakuihi i te Kura o Mahana. Students helped with preparation and clean up. Karakia. Waiata. Then later in the day, they performed their versions of Māori Purakau. Pāia! ! !

Jane

Our office in Kaitaia is the most northern branch of the Ministry of Education. Matariki is a special time for us to spend time together as a whanau, reflect and share kai. It's a tradition we started last year and will carry on for many more. Mauri ora

Kohu

my sister nephew and neice always share our kai with Whanau and neighbour not just at Matariki but all year round.

Kelly

I got out and saw Matariki for the very first time. I also managed to capture a photo of them too. It was such a special moment thinking about all my loved ones who have traveled across the sky.

Denise

My Matariki moment is being at peace and one with Te Taiao, the trees, ocean and fresh air. My Matariki moment is to look up at the night sky. My Matariki moment is to see the sun rise 24 degrees north on the horizon just after a sighting of Matariki. My Matariki moment is to think of loved ones. My Matariki moment is to celebrate the future in nurturing new growth and people.

Kate

Kia ora, I had a small group of friends over on 2nd July. We each brought a dish to share and a feast of kai came together. We enjoyed deep and meaningful chats, a game and shared our wishes to Hiwa-i-te-Rangi and each other for the coming year .

Sarah

I am Otago Polytechnic Student President, this year I have been working on getting a Maori Flag placed out side Polytechnic. Where it will stay for ever. To celebrate Matariki we all came together to share a Kai, an I felt ot was the right time to ask my whanau what flag they wanted, the United 'Tribes Flag' or 'Tino Rangatiratanga'. The whanu have picked Tino Rangatiratanga to fly. Which represents a Positive Change through Education. We have one more process to go through. But 2021 will always be the year we as a Iwi of Otago Polytechnic came together to discuss and change the history of our education provider. We are beyond blessed to have this opportunity. Kia Ora my Whanau El President'e Ezra Tamati

Ezra

Our 2yr olds Matariki celebration invitation to Kura to share Waiata & Kai. Unfortunately with all the sickness in kohanga/Daycare it has been postponed.

Caress

Room 23 made some lovely Matariki soup and shared our meal with other classes. We even took some home to share with our Whanau.

Sandra

Tomorrow my workmates and I are sharing kai. WE will be learning the kaikohau also.

Denise

Today I organised our first Matariki celebration for Southern Lakes English College Invercargill. People from twelve different countries celebrated with shared kai and kemu! We also made and hung stars with wishes for our year ahead and thoughts for our lost loved ones on our "starfall".

Erin

TIA enjoyed a team pot luck lunch and a time to learn more about Matariki.

Cheryl

As a whanau we celebrated Matariki by joining a community event of fireworks, food and a light display around Queenspark.

kylie

To celebrate Matariki, we had an overnight wānanga with our year 10 whanau class at our kura. We all stayed up til midnight to light a fire for our hangi and sat around singing waiata and sharing our wishes for the year with Hiwa-i-te-rangi. We then laid down our hangi. We all woke up at 5am to try and view Matariki (unfortunately there was too much light pollution where we were) and uncover our hangi, letting the steam rise up to feed the 9 stars of Matariki. We then shared the hangi together for breakfast! It was an amazing experience for all of us and a great way to begin a new year. Mānawatia a Matariki!

Ariah-Bella

My first time experience celebrating Matariki, especially Puanga here in Taranaki. This photo resonates with me, after spending the weekend at our Wananga- Puanga. When the old people saw the stars set, they would make a small hàngi. They would weep and tell Matariki the names of those who had gone since the stars set. When the hàngi was uncovered. The scent of the food would rise and strengthen the stars, for they were weak & cold. Referring to all the stars.

Josie

Our mānawatia a matariki #kaitahi was sharing knowledge, as we shared kai together - and the 2021 Kaikōhau. We had kōrero about the creation of the matariki stars (tiny/little eyes), about each star and some of our tikanga both for matariki itself (or puanga down these ways), and how these underpin other tikanga, such as the Kiingitanga. We also had a 'Kei hea?' quiz for locations throughout Aotearoa to share some kupu and te reo Māori sentence structures. It was such a great celebration!

Laise

Alphacrucis College celebrated Matariki with a bring and shared lunch. It was a wonderful time of connecting, celebrating and enjoying delicious kai together. For many students it was the first time celebrating Matariki and hearing the story of its importance and significance to Aotearoa. We will do this every year.

leeana

Tētahi kiriata ano mai Te Pā Wānanga i mua i te wā moko. Anei tā mātou karakia.

Carleen

kia ora e hoa ma nga manawatia to matariki o te tau hou maori nga whether o te rangi, nga maramataka , e ruamano ko rua tekau ma tahi we celebrate matariki as our year and come down to the art centre matariki showcase and watch us perform, as we has been invited to perform in waitaha otautahi on Sunday July 11

khan

Ko ēnei ngā tamariki o Te Pā Wānanga ki Omaka Marae. A marae based school set up in 2019

Carleen

It was so great to Celebrate matariki through our full school campus (primary, intermediate and grammar) with kapahaka performances then a feed amongst all the different friends and whānau. It was great to see even people from all different backgrounds including non maori come together through celebration and Whanaungatanga :)

Georgia

FAKAFETA'I SISU 'OFA: Malo e lelei, Mou ma'u 'a e Koloa Mou'i, Mou kau mai ke tau fai poupoua 'a e ngaahi lau mahina mo fetu'u 'o Langi. Ke fai tapuekina kimoutolu ma'u aipe pea mo faka-monu'ia. ****

Mele

Holyoake kindergarten in Pahiatua invited whānau and extended whānau to our Matariki parakuihi celebration on the 2nd Of July. Tamariki aged between 2 and a half to 4 and a half participated in a kapa haka performance and reenacted "Maui and the Sun". We incorporated props from different Maui purakau and added stars to represent Matariki. (I am unable to have photos of our tamariki, hence why it is just the props) I did want to add a photo of our kai set up but could only add one photo). We received tau kē feedback from our whānau.

Adrienne

I am hopeful of smashing my new job starting next term teaching at a new school. And excited for local travels with my husband in the school holidays 👍

Hannah

Kia ora Koutou Matariki 2021 Our kura is celebrating with performing "Cultural Festival" All different ethnic groups. Also, we planted vegetables for the new year.

Katt

Me and the Neff check it out from our yard in Rotorua was my son's Bday the 1st July

Matt

2nd July my Marae, Pikitu, held a wananga followed by a celebration for Matariki. This date was also significant for other reasons 1. It is my birthday 2. We lay my partner to rest a year prior on this date. I explained to my whanau that I needed to leave early and could not make the Matariki celebrations. I needed to honor a part of my past and my ♥. I felt compelled to attend the wananga as a way of lifting the vail of mourning and to find a way forward. My aunty simply said its the best time. This made my heart sing🎶🎤. I travelled back to the urupa and spent time, just me and my darling💜. My cousin organised a birthday dinner where we ate, laughed and cried. We talked about the wananga I had attended, the hopes and aspirations we have for our tamariki, our hapu and our iwi. These are my first baby steps forward. Manawatia a Matariki

Wendy

I kai tahi mātou ko ōku hoa ki Hong Kong ki te whakanui i a Matariki! Ahakoa kei tāwāhi mātou e noho ana. Mānawatia tonu a Matariki ☺️

Ngahuia

As part of our lead up to our school wide Matariki event, our two bilingual classes (Te Manawanui) came together for a kaitahi. Our special guests - the Principal and Deputy Principal's were shown manaakitanga throughout the whole process such as waiata, karanga, shared learning, goal setting, reflecting, learning the kaikōhau and not to mention the kai. The kai consisted of foods (as best as we could) that related to ngā whetū - Waitī, Waitā, Waipunarangi, Tupuānuku and Tupuārangi. Our manuhiri and tamariki were treated to a seafood chowder, boil up, fried bread, stuffing, self saucing chocolate pudding with cream and fruit salad. This was a unique experience which was enjoyed by all. Tēnā koutou katoa ki ngā tamariki o Te Manawanui, otirā ki o tātou manuhiri. Ngā mihi whānau! !

Tiepa

Kia ora Koutou. I live in Hakatere, Ashburton, this is my first Whangai i te Hautapu ceremony. The picture above is my small hangi offering up to Matariki tonight. It has pork, beef, chicken, lamb, kumara, pumpkin(from my friends garden) mushrooms, carrots(from my whanau in Gizzy) potatoes(from Methven) cabbage, stuffing, mussels and steam pudding. We also cooked another larger hangi to share (kai gas cooker, ground too wet)The super market didn't have any fresh water fish so to honour Waiti, we have replaced 2 of 3 leaking taps in our Whare (the 3rd one is a bit of a big job). In the morning I will attend a viewing of Matariki with the Ashburton Astronomy club. Watching the steam from the hangi rise up into the night sky was a beautiful moment, offering up the names of my passed loved ones was even more beautiful ❤✨🙏.

Maz

Tēnā Koe This year was my first year I've celebrated matariki We did a hangi Went and stayed two night at raungaiti marae and woke up to see Matariki early hours of the morning. Learnt about each star and what they do and their connections to the whenua. . . Learnt 2 matariki waiata Did a skit with other tauira on matariki Also made kono And went to a matariki dinner at Te koopuku High School to Tautoko my brother so this matariki has been eventful and I know all about matariki now and will celebrate it every year from here on. . Currently studying at Te wananga o Aotearoa and loving my reo journey

Benge

This year our kura held it’s very first Matariki Celebration. We started with a Hautapu, and continued with something special every day including visiting local kaumatua to brighten their day with waiata and kai hampers, then having a kura wide hangi. We did a rā hakinakina fundraiser for a young man from another kura to go to the world CrossFit championships and then we finished the week with a song and dance off with our Matariki bands and Matariki songs. It was a crazy cool week that reaffirmed our tikanga in such a meaningful way. Can’t wait for next Matariki! Ngā mihi o te tau hou Māori.

Pihere

CELEBRATING MATARIKI with my beautiful whanau at the Toll stadium whangarei with Moana movie and amazing fireworks 🎆🎇❤️🎇🎆 making memories and loving life! ! !

claudia

This was our kaimahi digging up hangi, and our tamariki burst into waiata to show awhi. Beautiful moment.

Nigel

I didn't really know what Matariki was when I was a little girl, I remember doing art and singing a few songs and moving to the next Kaupapa. I am 20 years old and for the first time I had experienced my first Hautapu. it was 4am 2nd of July, myself along side Many went on the Lakeland Queen in Rotorua, we sailed to Mokoia island, I was tired, excited, happy and cold but I knew i wanted to be there so I stuck it out. We have arrived at Te Motu Tapu a TInirau (Mokoia Island) , Carried our torches to the other side in the island, listening to the birds chirp before the break of dawn, the wind blowing through the trees and the breath of movement as we made our way. In the distance there were 3 bomb fires ahead of us waiting for us to gather around them, I place my hands towards to warmth and waited. A small korero about Matariki was shared stories about Who is Matariki, and why do we celebrate Matariki, I will never forget the korero that was shared that night. A few moments later we were to share our loved ones names that have past over in there year i had mentioned my cousins name Whakarongotai ( she is in the picture framed above) followed by Karakia and Karanga that rose goosebumps, and shed many tears. I am proud to be Maori was my thought through the whole process. I am proud, I am proud. This Whakanuia was followed by a finger picking hangi and a fest on the boat as we made our way back to our homes . I will never forget this moment

Kahutapeka

My 6 year old daughter was so excited about Matariki this year. She loves this celebration so so much! This year we were invited to her school and we went and shared kai with her friends and teachers. She has been dutifully practicing (and teaching mum and dad) the school karakia as well as singing the songs they shared every spare moment. We have been making and decorating star biscuits for our neighbours, and is already thinking about what we are going to do next year to start our own family tradition on the official holiday! I am loving seeing the wonderment and awe in her eyes during Matariki!

Renee

Matariki breakfast with my neighbours from Scotland and Germany. Turns out they are great company :).

Karu

I am an ECE teacher in Porirua, and I work with under 2s. Tonight we had a whānau night, and shared vegetable soup all the children had helped to make. The evening finished with a lantern trail (our babies painted around 60 lanterns) with 3 stations: Pòhutakawa - where we wrote the name of our lost loved ones on a pebble and placed it on a mirror; Matariki - where we wrote down something which we were thankful for or made us happy, and hung it on a tree branch; and Hiwa-i-te-rangi - where we wrote our dream for the future and pegged it on a line, then recited the kaikòhau we learnt. All was lit with flickering lanterns and fairy lights, with Anika Moa playing in the background. It was magical! ! !

Loreena

Sharing Kai with our whānaungā - yum char at Regal Chinese Restaurant ona Sunday

Richard

during the beginning of matariki, i went on a noho trip with my class from the wananga in hamilton. it was our first noho as a class so i was extremely nervous, but not long after the pōwhiri & we had some kai along with some good chats, we all settled quickly. the next morning we all woke up at 5am to go out behind the wharekai because that’s where the best views were & one of our kaiako taught us the waiata of how to find each whetū and the story behind matariki. it was such a beautiful experience.

ashly

Mea pai I roto I nga mea pai I waho❤️ I am a true believer in reciprocity and receiving what you give both good and bad. Translating this whakaaro or words of meditation in Te Reo gives it more life and connection for me as Maori. Mauriora ❤️

Tamara

Shared Kai with my daughter home from Uni, husband, son & mother in law. Kiamoana whanau Aroha.

Katrina

A powerful fire lit up our stunning morning sky here in Raumati South School as we celebrated Matariki with stories, remembrance, and baked potatoes fresh from the flames! 🥰

Nicky

This year I was fortunate to organise a Matariki Ceremony within our capacity atop the maunga tapu of Maungakaawa with 70 particpants from our local community. In part of our kaupapa we all got to share one thig we aspired for or one thing we were grateful for - kaikōhau. The most special thing was having members of our whaanau attend and taking them back to their maunga for their first ever Matariki Celebration.

Arihia

Ngā mihi o te wā. I tērā Rāmere, i oho mātau ko ōku pia mō te pō ki te ata ki te marae ki te kite i a Matariki, nāna i whakaputa mai! He wheako hohunu rawa hei rongo ki te wairuatanga me te hononga ki ngā whetu, ngā tūpuna, me ngā atua.

Luke

Kia ora :) Te Ope whakaora in Ōtautahi had our first annual Matariki dinner! We had 47 people come together to share in kai, whakamoemiti and fellowship. We learned together about the stars and some of the meaning of Matariki. I encouraged people to bring a photo of someone that died in the last year to display and we wrote on coloured stars for our hopes in the new year! It was a great time together :)

Christine

We are a Year 6 class in Auckland. Students brought in healthy food they made to our kaitahi with the idea of our hope and desires for the year to come were healthy.

Kris

We made soup together on our bilingual session. Everyone brought an ingredient in and the children prepared them. We sat down to share soup for lunch and said the kaikōhau after our karakia kai.

Newlands Tamariki

He wānanga ki Waiouru kaupapa mai taiaha i raro i ā TWTTOA kõ te wahanga parakuihi😀

Ruawāhia

Our whanau always sit and share kai together. But it especially important at this time of year as we remember our dearest Pop who passed a year ago. Coming together to celebrate his life and legacy is incredibly important. We are a big family, stretched across Aotearoa, but one thing that always pulled us together was Pop. He is dearly missed and very loved. He would be proud to see that we continue to spend quality time together for good, wholesome kai and a long korero. I am English born & raised but have Maori tamariki . it is important for us to embrace and teach our children their language. This new year we are focusing on using Te Reo more in our whare. Nau mai ngā hua Nau mai ngā pai Nau mai kia nui Kia hāwere ai

Danielle

At Kaipara District Council in Dargaville our Maori Advisory Group put on a delish parakuihi for the whole company to enjoy. #kaitahi Mānawatia a Matariki! !

Moana

E whakanui ana mātou I te Mātahi o te tau, ko te whakawhanaungatanga, ko te manaakitanga te mahi, ko ngā kai kua hora ki te tēpu, he pipi, he kutai, he ika auahi hoki. Anei mātou e manawatia ana i a Matariki ki Tauranga Moana

Rangiwahia

. . . it's only half the photo, for our Matariki, we gathered in the realm of Hinatore and created, rested, and feasted. We shared kai and creativity, dance and music, stories, and laughter. Danced thru the stars, lead by Hine Takurua - we asked for easy navigation of this year to come. We ate juicy fruit gum, homemade avocado chocolate truffles, and all things magnificent. Maungarongo Te Kawa and Kaia Hawkins made this new year a place to celebrate this beautiful life and death. . . dancing all the way from Wai puna rangi.

Kaia

Koutou e ngā aporei, ngā ika a mate, hō atu rā ki a Pohutukawa. Whāia te reo karanga o Hinenuitepō kia piri tata anō ki o tātou tini i te pō. Ki te marae o Rauroha koutou, kotahi atu anō ki a Hineruakimoe. Tau! Tākina rā ngā karakia ki ngā whetu, ki a Matariki, hei whakatūwheratanga ki ngā aronga hei mahinga I te marama 13 ka heke. Hai Ātea ā rangi mātau ki Heretaunga Ararau tū ai. Tuhirangi maunga, Mātaotao tihi tapu, Mōteo whenua, Timi Kara whare, Hinepare mana motuhake. Tātou tātou, Rūrū e!

Ngahiriwa

My partner and I hosted our first matariki as a whānau. We shared our knowledge of matariki, watched a short video about matariki, had a beautiful kai (from the stars) and an awesome night with lots of laughs. This matariki was extra special as my brother passed away last year so we reminisced and talked about him and the star Pohutukawa. Overall, it was a beautiful night and we plan on making it a family tradition where we will continue to learn about matariki and the rituals our tipuna performed at this time of year. P. s I would love a hoodie lol I always take part in your movements and will continue to support the revitalization of the ao Maori. 🇾🇪

Dasha

Our work place had our first kaitahi today and learnt and said kaikōhau before our shared kai to mark Matariki. Karawhiua!

Mihi

This year for Matariki we reflected on moments of the past and the meanings of each Whetu. In the afternoon my whanau and I went to the school Matariki disco and it finished just in time to see the stars sparkle in the night.

Michelle

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Matariki 2021

This year for Matariki we reflected on moments of the past and the meanings of each Whetu. In the afternoon my whanau and I went to the school Matariki disco and it finished just in time to see the stars sparkle in the night.