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Matariki celebration

Matariki is a special occasion which marks the start of the Māori new year, this is signified by the Matariki cluster of stars reappearing in our night skys. This is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate the present and plan for the new year.

Matariki hunga nui - Matariki gatherer of people Celebrating Matariki is something we love to do, it is always a great whānau event to celebrate the Māori new year. We often have whānau who this is their first matariki in Aotearoa, giving us a chance to share matariki with them. Stars were a big feature in this evening whānau could paint and decorate a plaster star, write a whānau goal for the new year on a wooden star, colour in, make a bracelet or plant a seed for the new year. This year we focused on learning each stars name and what that star represents, the evening is a great chance for korero between families and each other and with kaiako.

It is a great time to also remember "Tukua kia tū takitahi ngā whateū o te rangi" - Let each star in the sky shine its own light