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Matariki starts this month.
Communities across Mahurangi have organised a range of events featuring music, food and traditional crafts to celebrate Matariki – the Maori new year, from June 19 to July 11.
Matariki is named after the bright stars in the Pleiades cluster, which rise into the night sky each winter.
For Maori, it was traditionally a time to celebrate as crop harvesting had come to an end, freeing up time for festivities and family time.
This year, Te Hana Te Ao Marama is hosting a Ngā Whetū ō Te Rangi – Reach for the Stars singing workshop on the weekend of July 3 and 4.
Participants will get to stay on the marae overnight and all meals are supplied.
Four experienced tutors, Clyde Tukaiora Connell, Bonnie Low, Wendy Nute and Robert Nute, will help attendees to “release the musical talents within”.
Organiser Linda Clapham says it will be a weekend for music lovers of all abilities to get together and celebrate with song.
The workshop will conclude with a free concert open to the wider community, featuring songs produced in the workshop. The concert is on Sunday, July 4, from 2pm to 4pm. Cost to attend the workshop is $80.
Te Hana Te Ao Marama is also holding a Kaipara moana seafood festival on Saturday, July 31, from 11am. It will include a tour of the village and a telling of the story of how princess Te Hana swam from Pouto to Tapora.
The festival will conclude with a seafood buffet consisting of “catch of the day” from the Kaipara. Only 80 spaces are available and tickets are $60. For both events, email tehana@xtra.co.nz.
Unity Collection in Matakana is hosting a Matariki celebration on Saturday, June 26, at 11am, with a kapa haka performance by children from Pakiri School.
Unity founder Tania Rupapera will announce a calendar of wānanga workshops celebrating Maori culture. Dates are still to be confirmed, but events will include a ta moko workshop with Rangi Kipa, a poi workshop with Ngamata Skipper, a weaving workshop with Shona Tawhiao and a pounamu workshop with Sands Carving Studio.
Those interested can sign up to the newsletter at www.unitycollection.co.nz to receive updates.
The Whangateau Residents & Ratepayers Association and the Whangateau Hall are hosting a Matariki potluck dinner on July 2. The community is invited to bring a plate and hear about the importance of Matariki to Maori.
Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust and the Mahurangi East Land Restoration Project is hosting a Matariki planting day on Sunday, July 11, at 10am, at Te Muri Regional Park. Access to the park will be via buses from the Pūhoi Pioneers Memorial Park. To register, search “planting day Te Muri” at
www.eventbrite.co.nz.
From next year June 22 will be a public holiday to celebrate Matariki.
