Te Wā Whakanui o Matariki - Celebrating Matariki

Our education team loves getting creative with tamariki and whānau during school holiday programmes – this week we’ve been busy with Matariki-themed activities. Tamariki can make a pūrerehua – a Māori whirly wind instrument that sounds like insects’ or birds’ wings, weave a special taonga to treasure, build a manu aute (kite) to fly, or design a twinkling tealight lantern to light up the night.

girls reading in tama taiki close
This tama taiki (childrens' basket) woven from kareao (supple jack) is the perfect cosy space to share Matariki stories
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Storytime - taking time out during a busy Waitangi visit to hang out and read traditional Matariki legends
purerehua table
Families enjoy getting crafty together to create some special taonga
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These lovely locals mastered some mahi raranga (weaving skills) to create beautiful harakeke (flax) bracelets

We created a modern-day version of pūrerehua (below) ; traditional Māori wind instruments carved from wood.Their eerie sound was believed to connect people to their ancestors and the lands and seas around them, to call rain and to send one’s hopes and dreams on the four winds of Tāwhirimātea, god of the wind.

Our School Holiday Programme runs until Friday 23 July. We hope all teachers, students and whānau have had a relaxing and fun holiday break and our team looks forward to seeing you at Waitangi during Term 3!  Find out about education visits ; if you can’t make it to Waitangi just yet, one of our educators can zoom into your classroom with an interactive virtual visit

21/7/2021  I.Rider