Matariki is the maori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. It rises in midwinter and for many Māori, it is the start of a new year.
In Māori mythology Tawhirimatea was angered at the separation of their parents Ranginui and Papatuanuku, that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens hence the name mata (eyes) ariki (gods).
Matariki is a time to acknowledge and remember our past loved ones, it is a time to reflect, to be thankful to the atua for the harvest, to feast and to share the harvest with family and friends and a time to plan for the following year (goals, dreams and aspirations). Our celebrations here at Best Start Sunset involved arts and crafts learning activities for our tamariki. Our tamariki learnt each of the stars names and what each star represents through waiata (song) and stories.
We had a remembrance table for our loved ones who had passed over the year. We celebrated with our centre whānau with shared kai, gaining whānau aspirations for their child's learning and development, fun activities for our tamariki including a special treat a bouncy castle embracing whānaungatanga linking to our centre philosophy and our localised curriculum derived from Te Whare tapa wha.