Matariki 2026 for BestStart Kawaha Point meant light, kai and whānau.
As a team, we all decided to have a kai hakaari and glow disco, with the food planned by the tamariki with Teriyaki chicken on the menu, apple crumble and ice cream.
The event really went off with plenty of joy and laughter as parents danced with their tamariki in the blackened-out tui room. There were disco lights and glow sticks, bunny-eared tiaras and glasses that illuminated the dark in jewel-like colours.
More surprises came as Duffy sauntered up the ramp to greet the tamariki and give out books as a Matariki gift to see in the Maōri New Year. We had many happy tamariki as a result who were keen to read their books before the kai hakaari.
The kai was very scrumptious, with a pull-apart Teriyaki chicken on fried bread, chips and cucumber. A special request from a four-year-old was a main course. This was followed by the apple crumble and ice cream, with plates being loaded up with all these goodies, which made for a great Matariki event.
Whānau were able to connect with one another and catch up on korero while their tamariki ran back to the glow disco for another kanikani before heading home for a moe. Matariki 2026 was a successful event for our learning community and we can't wait to plan for the next whānau celebration, with something fabulous already up our sleeves.
Mā te wā from the team at BestStart Kawaha Point.