LATEST STORIES
Matariki stars
Matariki is a group of stars that appears in the night sky in midwinter and shares its name with the celebrations that take place around this time. In the traditional Māori lunar calendar, called the Maramataka, the new year begins with the first new moon after Matariki appears in the sky.
On Wednesday 12 July 2023, everyone was invited to our centre to celebrate this Kiwi celebration together. Enjoying homemade hot soup which was made by our centre cook, Rose, and everyone’s kind donations.
The weather was just right for us as we celebrated Matariki, not too cold and the rain stayed away. It was a whānau celebration, with over 120 people joining in. Once we completed our hot soup and buns, we headed into the park to find the nine “Matariki stars”. With torches and glow sticks the race around the park was on, the children were so excited to find a star, lit up in the night. Our very creative teacher Sarah, created these beautiful lanterns that shined around the park, representing each star in the night sky.
Hosting evenings like this at our centre, strengthens our BestStart Taradale Whanau, develops lasting friendships, and supports our young children to make connections, linking with their families and the wider world.
We truly value events such as these, as the wider world of family and community is an integral part of the early childhood curriculum