At our centre, Matariki was a wonderful opportunity for our tamariki to learn about the significance of the Māori New Year through meaningful experiences, creativity and connection.
Throughout the week, our learning spaces were filled with beautiful Matariki displays that reflected the values of remembrance, celebration and looking forward with hope.
We are also grateful to share a special morning tea with our whānau, giving families the opportunity to come together, connect and celebrate this important occasion alongside their children. These moments helped strengthen our sense of community and belonging.
One of the biggest highlights for our tamariki was the daily arts and crafts experiences in their classrooms. Each day, children explored the Matariki stars through painting, collages, drawing and hands-on creative activities while listening to the stories and meaning behind Matariki.
Our preschool children especially embraced the celebration, working collaboratively to create a stunning Matariki wall dedicated to the nine stars. They took great pride in contributing their artwork and ideas, creating a display that celebrated both their creativity and their growing understanding of Matariki.
It has been wonderful to see our tamariki engage so enthusiastically in learning about the tradition and stories of Aotearoa New Zealand while creating lasting memories together.