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McDonald Street Matariki Celebrations
At BestStart MacDonald Street we did lots of fun activities in preparation for Matariki. In the Te Tipu room we painted beautiful lanterns and stars which all represent what Matariki means.
Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleides. It rises in midwinter and for many Māori, it heralds the start of a new year. Iwi across New Zealand understand and celebrate Matariki in different ways and at different times.
Traditionally, Matariki was a time to acknowledge the dead and to release their spirits to become starts. It was also a time to reflect, to be thankful to the gods for the harvest, to feast and to share the bounty of the harvest with family and friends.
In the Kowhai room we made a kite, a korowai and a beautiful wall display. Kites have always played an important role in Māori culture, particularly during the winter season when they were flown to signify the start of Matariki, the Māori New Year. The Māori kite is called manu tukutuku or manu aute – manu translates as either kite or bird. Another word for kites is pākau, meaning the bird wing. Māori flew kites for recreation, but also to communicate, measure the likelihood of a successful enemy attack, or to find offenders. They were also used as a means to communicate with those who had passed on, connecting heaven and earth.
Then we wrapped up our celebrations with a shared kai and puppet show.
“Ka mahuta a Matariki i te pae, ka mahuta ō tatou tūmanako ki te tau” – When Matariki rises above the horizon, our aspirations rise to the year ahead.