Mānawatia A Matariki — Happy Māori New Year
As Te Kāhui o Matariki, the Matariki star cluster, signals the arrival of the Māori New Year, local tangata whenua and community groups share opportunities for us to celebrate and come together.
Matariki is a time to reflect, celebrate our history and look to the future. To celebrate the magic of Matariki across this year, the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund (TWBCEF) is supporting four events across the rohe.
The events welcome all age groups and aim to build understanding of te ao Māori (Māori world view), mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and te reo Māori (the Māori language).
In Welcome Bay, the Te Ara a Matariki Light Trail is a magical and inclusive experience for all ages and abilities. Held over two nights, the trail is a gentle walk winding through the māra kai, food forest, and native bush areas. Night one sees whānau with disabilities and sensory needs catered to with reduced lighting and fewer people, creating a calm and accessible space for all.
Te Kete Matariki Te Puke is an annual Māori lead community event held at Jellicoe Park, Te Puke, jam-packed full of culture, entertainment, kai, fun and education. Held on Friday 20 June, the celebration draws its name on the story of the local ancestor Whakaotirangi who had the role of securing the kumara plants brought from Hawaiki to Aotearoa in a kete on the Te Arawa waka.
Commemorating Matariki within the Merivale community, a series of events will be held with the focus on two main aspects of celebration – Matariki, the mother star, representing reflection and remembrance, and Põhutukawa representing those who have passed on.
Matariki ki Katikati sees three key events for the local community. On Thursday, a lunch at Te Rereatukahia Marae sees mana whenua hosting special guests from Katikatis local history. The 'Viewing of the Stars' held on the eve of Matariki at Katikati College includes a night market and an opportunity for the entire family to share kai and culture. On Matariki Friday the Dawn Service at Park Road Reserve being a true highlight. The Reserve is a place of significance and a perfect setting overlooking the inner harbour, with spectacular views of Matakana Island, Bowentown Heads and the Matariki cluster which appears brilliantly above the horizon.
The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund is supporting these four events with a combined total of $47,000 ensuring accessibility to events across the rohe.
The fund is a partnership between local funders Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council with the core purpose of supporting community-led events and those that encourage participation for free or at low-cost.
TECT's Community Impact Manager, Paula Hudson, says the fund enables events where our communities can honour Matariki through traditional ceremonies, performances, and storytelling.
'It's great to see the community have opportunities to learn about Matariki, and the concepts of the Māori New Year. Supporting experiences that enable connection and reflection at this significant time of the Māori calendar helps create a stronger and more cohesive community.'
These are just a few of the Matariki events occurring across the region over the next couple of weeks. Visit the Matariki Te Tauranga o ngā Waka website for more information www.matarikitetaurangaongawaka.co.nz/
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