It was a really special year for me to truly celebrate matariki for the first time.

I’ve gone along to support the town matariki celebrations in other years and supported the schools who have performed.

But I feel like this year I had learnt, through doing a level 2 Te Reo Maori course, what matariki is about, why we celebrate it, why it’s about slowing down and reflecting on our year past and our year to come, to celebrate with family and loved ones.

Waipukurau put on the best celebration we have ever had! The entire Russel park was filled with most of the town. With multiple food trucks - so yummy! Free bouncy castles, ta moko stamps and so many activities. The performances were amazing and nearly every one of them brought me to tears!

I’m a local youth worker and seeing “my kids” stand up on stage and be able to show their strengths and have such courage to get up there was just so inspiring! I also got a chance to perform with my Te Reo class which was so scary and nerve racking, it made me even more proud of the kids and youth who got up on stage also.

This celebration was only one of the many things that were organised over a whole week!

I came away feeling from the week feeling like my wairua was so full it was spilling out to others. That all parts of my hauora had been filled ready to start the year again.

Im really looking forward to actually having matariki as a recognised holiday next year.