Matariki celebrations in Ruapehu make for a new year's day to remember

RNZ News

6 hours ago

Ngāti Rangi spokesperson Che Wilson.
Photo:
Supplied / Richie Mills
Ngāti Rangi members are reflecting on the honour of hosting this year's Matariki national holiday ceremony.
The ceremonies wrapped up on Friday at Tirorangi Marae at the base of Ruapehu.
Ngāti Rangi spokesperson Che Wilson said it was huge honour for Ngāti Rangi to host the celebrations in Ohakune, the "capital of carrots".
"It's a huge honour to be able to be the first marae to host the Matariki national holiday ceremony."
Many iwi members worked for weeks preparing for the ceremony, from reciting karakia to working in the kitchen.
Jamie Turama Tuahuriri Downes was working in the wharekai kitchen, playing his part in what he called the "boar's nest". It had been a huge build-up, he said, including lots of early mornings going hunting.
"Lamb or mutton, beef and venison is the main sort of meat that fills [the] fridges and freezers of our people. The ability to go and hunt and gather and bring it all into a place that we call the 'boar's nest', that's a place where a lot of it gets processed."
Photo:
Supplied / Richie Mills
Downes called it "the classroom that every rangatahi needs to be in".
"It has become a place that not only feeds this kaupapa in the lead-up to the many people that will turn up before the actual kaupapa, but also for tangihanga, for any kaupapa."
Downes said it was an honour to serve in a place where his tūpuna and all of his aunties and uncles had toiled for many years.
"Just a massive honour and privilege to be here alongside whānau doing what we do, a lot of steering well away from the cameras because for them this is just what we do on the regular."
Photo:
Supplied / Richie Mills
Tirorangi Marae kaumātua Matiu Wilson was raised near the marae, but has spent most of his life away from the region.
"I always wanted to eventually come home to be the next guardian of the homestead, but also to get back involved with Tirorangi."
Wilson returned to the marae about five years ago and was now a marae trustee. He said he loved being a part of the paepae, and was enjoying his time getting back in touch with Tirorangi. He said he was proud to see people from all across the country visit his marae.
"Tumeke, awesome, beautiful and I'm so proud that I've come home and I've realised what I've missed since I've been away from home for so many years."
Tererenga Nikora.
Photo:
Pokere Paewai / RNZ
Tererenga Nikora was one of the manuhiri visiting from Waikato. Unfortunately she missed out on
seeing the stars
because she was chasing her tamaiti around, she said.
But she said Ngāti Rangi had shown amazing manaakitanga, and the locals had been friendly and helpful.
"It is stunning. It was amazing. I love seeing Māori stuff like this, especially in te ao Māori and that it's getting bigger, it's going worldwide, so it is so cool to see."
Photo:
Supplied / Richie Mills
Ohakune local Jade said she got a
clear view of Puanga
on Friday morning.
"After the rain yesterday it was just so wonderful to wake up this morning and the clouds had cleared and we could actually see."
She said it was "super special" that so many people were visiting her community to share in the kaupapa.
Photo:
Supplied / Richie Mills
Photo:
Supplied / Richie Mills
Linley (left) and Jade (right).
Photo:
Pokere Paewai / RNZ
Taupō resident Linley said the karakia and karanga from Ngāti Rangi was beautiful.
"It's such a privilege to have this opportunity to share and to really demonstrate that unity and that shared understanding."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter
curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.