Matariki- bringing us together

Header Image: One more! A tama taiki (childrens' basket) full of Papatūānuku and Ranginui's tamariki help tell the creation story and how Matariki was formed

We invite local schools to take part annually – it’s all about having fun together as we learn about this special time of year, officially a public holiday from 2022.

There are many different stories of Matariki throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. As we explore some of them through traditional oral storytelling, drama and imagination, students become the storytellers, bringing to life the magic of Matariki.

Groups enjoyed educational and entertaining tākaro (games) with tamariki and rangatahi.  Sports and games were an integral part of traditional Māori society and widely played during times like Matariki, which marks completion of the autumn harvest. The pātaka storehouses were full, leaving free time for relaxation, family, leisure and games.

Students loved decorating and flying colourful paper kites. Kites, known as manu tukutuku or manu aute, have always been important in Māori culture, especially during winter when they were flown to signify the start of Matariki.  Manu translates as kite or bird and tukutuku refers to the winding out of the string as the kite climbs. Seen as connectors of the heavens and the earth, kites were also a means of communication, and one village would often signal to the next that a meeting was needed by flying a kite.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou ngā kaiako, ngā ākonga me te whānau o ngā kura katoa. A big thank you to the teachers, students and families of all the schools who came along. It was a great time of connecting with others and having fun together while learning about this special time of year.

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