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Local community marae, Te Herenga Waka o Ōrewa, will again mark Matariki with a pre-dawn ceremony at Ōrewa Beach.
The ceremony celebrates the rising of the Matariki star cluster and the start of the Māori new year.
There will be an opportunity to honour loved ones who have died, and share mātauranga Māori, including knowledge about the Matariki stars, and food.
Among those gathered will be marae committee member, artist and mother of four, Holly Aymes. Earlier this year, Holly completed the mural on the Ōrewa bridge underpass and she recently created a design to celebrate the second Matariki public holiday.
Holly says the design process was collaborative. The shape as a whole is a waka (representing the marae), with the bow and the stern representing the headlands of the Whangaparāoa and Coromandel peninsulas as well as Waiwera, Mahurangi, Kawau and Little Barrier. The spirals represent the eyes of Matariki, kumara (Tipuānuku), and the fresh water springs and rivers that flow into our moana/ocean.
The design was printed on t-shirts and hoodies and the first run has already sold out.
During the celebration people can acknowledge loved ones who have passed since last Matariki, by naming them and bringing a photograph.
Holly will bring a photo of her Nanny Phyllis who was also an artist, and passed last August.
“By holding her picture and calling out her name to Pōhutukawa, Māori believe when Matariki rises, the spirits of those loved ones will be released into the sky to become stars,” Holly says.
The celebration will also involve sharing kai and singing.
The words on Holly’s design, Ahunga nui, relate to food – the steam from hot food rising up is part of the ceremony, as well as a welcome way for participants to warm up.
Holly says many people attended the first Matariki celebration, last year and the marae hope for an even bigger turnout this year.
“We hope it’s a clear morning this time, so we can see the stars rising,” she says.
The celebration takes place at Ōrewa Beach (in front of the surf club), Friday, July 14 at 6am. More information, see What’s On.
