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Celebrating Matariki at BestStart Parkside

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Matariki is an incredibly exciting time for us at BestStart Parkside.  It provides us with a great opportunity to come together as a whānau and celebrate a significant Māori tradition.

Our programme looks to develop the ways in which Matariki is connected to Māori traditions and how we might understand the meaning and relationship Matariki has for the people of Aotearoa today. For us it means working in collaboration with tamariki and whānau.

We placed an emphasis on the five connecting strands that were focal points for a range of activities during this time of year. 

  1. Matariki (Māori tradition, language, culture) 
  2. Whānau (family and extended supporting groups) 
  3. Whenua (Land, country, nation) 
  4. Kai (food, to eat, consume, feed) 
  5. Kōrero (talk, communicate)    

The benefits of cooking with tamariki include: 

  • Increases Language Development 
  • Enhances Fine Motor Skills 
  • Increases Math Ability 
  • Teaches Life Skills 
  • Encourages Family Bonding 

 

Matariki celebrations were concluded with a karakia, the tamariki performing waiata and everyone enjoying a shared kai.