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Matariki, or the Maori New Year, is a time for reflection, remembrance and contemplating the future.
It will once again be celebrated with community gatherings, traditions and festivities across Rodney with events taking place throughout June (the actual public holiday falls on Friday –Ramere, June – Hune 20 this year).
Te Hana Te Ao Marama
311 State Highway 1, Te Hana
Saturday, June 14, from 10am to 2pm
Like last year, Te Hana Te Ao Marama and healthcare provider Te Ha Oranga have joined forces to celebrate Matariki and are putting on a fun-filled day with a wide range of stalls, kai and activities.
Importantly, there will be Te Ha Oranga health services available on the day including free dental checks for under fives.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what to expect: childhood immunisations and flu jabs; breast and bowel screening; Plunket NZ offering free clothes and toothbrushes; entertainment; kapa haka, rides, face painting and bouncy castles.
Community coordinator Jess O’Donoghue says it’s a great family event that brings people together.
“At the start we’ll have a talk about what Matariki is and hand out free booklets from the Ministry of Education that explain what it’s all about,” she says.
“The highlight will be the kapa haka performances that are scattered throughout the day – they’re always a crowd favourite.”
Wai, Kai & Kapa Haka
A Matariki Celebration at Matakana Village
Friday, June 20, from 11am to 3pm
This promises to be the biggest Matariki celebration in the area.
Organised by Matakana Village and the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, it will feature live music, kapa haka by tamariki from Matakana School and Snells Beach School, stalls and plenty of activities for the whole whanau.
Matakana Village’s Tom Klockseth says the kapa haka performances will take place on the other side of the Matakana River from the market.
“Everyone will line up on the riverbank there, plus we’ve upgraded our sound system with bigger speakers and sound engineers coming in this year, so it should be really awesome.
“Plus we’ve got an MC to talk to the meaning of Matariki, which will be more of an educational piece.”
Tom says they’re collaborating with Friends of Awa Matakanakana (FOAM) around the theme of “water” and on the day “will take time to reflect on the role our rivers, estuaries and moana play in our lives, and how we can protect them for generations to come”.
Matariki Whangateau
Whangateau Hall and Reserve,
Saturday, June 28, from 10am
Get ready for the famous Matariki bucket raffle.
Audrey Sharp, who is organising the event with Marie Ashton-Jones, says this year the raffle is to fundraise for a “big marquee for the hall”, which will cost around $4000.
“We’re going to have a 100 buckets with about 1000 raffle tickets available at $2 each. On the day you’ll come up and collect your bucket if your ticket is called out,” she says.
“The buckets are filled with all sorts of different goodies donated by locals. Your bucket could contain anything from candles and gift vouchers to kids’ toys, to wine, biscuits and chips. Whatever it is, it’ll be worth more than $2.”
Tamariki from Leigh School will kick off the Matariki celebrations with a kapa haka performance from 10am.
There will be facepainting for the kids, a variety of whanau-friendly activities and a hangi for lunch.
“We’ve got wild meat to put in it, like venison, and someone’s even donated a sheep.”
Audrey says it’s a chance to “thank the community and to celebrate the new year, which is Aotearoa’s new year”.
