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Matariki with BestStart Kelvin Grove!
Kia ora e te whānau,
A huge welcome, and thanks for coming. We are excited to host our first whānau event since last Matariki. Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars that rises in midwinter and, for many Māori, signals the start of the New Year.
Matariki is a time to gather with loved ones, friends, and whānau to reflect on the past year, spend time together and plan for the year ahead.
Here at Kelvin Grove, our vision is "At One with Child, Whānau and Community", so having the opportunity to do this face to face again this year is particularly rewarding for us as a centre team and provides an opportunity for families to get to know the team better but also make connections with each other.
The first part of the night was for showcasing our concert. We have been practising for weeks, so I know the tamariki are going to be proud to show off their beautiful waiata.
We will then say karakia kai and enjoy dinner together. Matariki is often celebrated by having a feast to acknowledge the bounty and blessings of the present. We have split the kai up this year to help reduce waiting times, so there are tables set up in both Tōtara Tahi and Rua, with a drinks station set up in the middle.
In the hallway, we had Matariki-themed books and puzzles at one end and decorated a star station at the other end. Tamariki could decorate stars to add to their Matariki cluster, which signifies reflection, hope, and our connection to the environment.
In Koru, we were grooving with a night sky disco dance party!
In Kōwhai, we had a night sky playdough to explore, and there we planted seeds. This relates to the Tupuānuku star, which represents food that grows within the soil.
There was a wishing tree where you could share your aspirations for your tamariki in the coming year. This relates to hiwa-i-te-rangi which is the youngest wishing star, and it ties into planning our aspirations for the coming year.
We also had a loving memory tree where you can take time to remember loved ones who are no longer with us. This relates to the Pōhutakawa star, which connects with those who has passed on.
Concert – Tirama Tirama, Waiti Waita, and Tutira Mai.
Karakia Kai - Kia taku whānau, me nga hoa, me te kai, Kia ora. Our families friends and food, we say thank you.