Sign In / Register
Ōrewa College welcomed local kura for an afternoon of remembrance and cultural performance at the school on Thursday, June 19. The event displayed a shared commitment to honouring te tau hou Māori and the values of whanaungatanga (kinship and connection) and whakapapa (ancestry).
The programme opened with a pōwhiri, followed by kapa haka and Pasifika performances from Ōrewa, Mahurangi and Whangaparāoa Colleges. A poroporoaki acknowledged loved ones who have passed, linked to stars in the Matariki constellation, before the celebration concluded with a karakia whakamutunga (closing prayer) at 4.30pm.
“We celebrate not only Matariki but each other,” kaiako Haimona Koziarski says.
“It’s a time for community, whakapapa, and aspiration.”
The Ōrewa College auditorium was packed, with some standing in the sides to watch the performances as hundreds turned out to celebrate with friends and whanau.
