Sign In / Register
A community event has been planned for Ōrewa Beach to make New Zealand’s first Matariki public holiday, on Friday, June 24, particularly special.
Local marae, Te Herenga Waka o Ōrewa, will lead a ceremony to see in the Maori New Year, reset, reconnect and clear a new way forward.
Marae committee member Pip Speedy says the idea for a hakawatea (cleansing ceremony) was originally about coming together as a community after leaving the Covid-19 red traffic light setting.
The event is called Matariki ahunga nui – a Matariki coming together.
“It made sense to hold it at Matariki, because of its significance as a new start,” Pip says. “As well as celebrating Matariki being recognised as a public holiday, this ceremony is to mark the end of Covid restrictions, clear away the burdens we shouldered during the pandemic and bring us together again as a community.”
The whole community –whānau, local businesses, schools, church and community groups – are welcome to gather for karakia/prayers, waiata, food and activities, starting at 6am on Ōrewa Beach.
The pre-dawn start means the constellations will be there to look at, while marae kaiwhakahaere (manager) Kereama Nathan shares his knowledge about them.
A “rolling karakia” is also planned – with members of different faiths invited to offer a karakia in any language. Each karakia flows on from the last.
There will be a breakfast sausage sizzle, as well as coffee and mini muffins from Dear Deer Coffee in Whangaparāoa. Future Whangaparāoa is organising activities for the children, such as kite making.
The marae hopes to make this an annual community event.
Matariki ahunga mui takes place on Friday, June 24, on Ōrewa Beach (by the surf club), starting 6am. If you would like to recite a karakia, please email admin@teherengawakaoorewa.co.nz
