Katy Cottrell – Deputy Principal of High School / Acting Principal
Manawa maiea te putanga o Matariki
Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi
Manawa maiea te matahi o te tau
Māori believe that appearance of Matariki in the morning sky in mid-winter marks the Māori New Year, or Te Matahi o te Tau. Matariki is the star cluster that is most commonly known as Pleiades or M45. The arrival of Matariki is a sign for people to gather, to honour the dead, celebrate the present and plan for the future. Hence the phrase ‘Matariki hunga nui’ meaning the many people of Matariki.
For our tupuna, our Māori ancestors, astronomy was interwoven into all facets of life. Meticulous observations of the movements of the stars and planets, the changing position of the sun, the phases of the moon and the appearance of anomalies such as comets and meteors were recorded and handed down from generation to generation as part of Māori oral tradition. This knowledge was connected to seasonal activities such as planting and harvesting, the flowering of plants, the spawning of fish and the natural cycles of the environment. This astronomical knowledge sits at the heart of our many regional ecological calendar systems that guided Māori from season to season.
To celebrate Matariki at Wā Ora, we will be hosting the following events:
Matariki School Concert
Thursday 22nd June 9.30am start (finish approx 11am). This will be held in T2 at the High School and whānau are welcome. All areas of the school will be performing either waiata or short plays and Tawari ākonga will be MC and their band will be performing.
Tawari Sleepover
Friday 23rd June. Tawari Māori ākonga has organised a Te Hautapu ceremony and will be honouring the past and looking into the future. This involves an overnight sleepover so that the ākonga can look at the stars and make predictions for the future. They will also be preparing a full hāngī.
Matariki Day Activities
Saturday 24th June 2pm – 4pm. Each Preschool and Primary classroom will be hosting an activity in relation to one of the Matariki stars. Whānau will be able to visit each class to participate in all 9 activities (if time permits) during the 2-hour period. Whānau are required to RSVP for this event to ensure each class has enough materials for the required activity. Further information will be sent out by the committee organising this event closer to the time.
Matariki Evening Hāngī
Saturday 24th June 4pm – 7pm. Due to the fabulous fundraising efforts of our whānau hui and PTA and a generous donation from Crewcare, our school cleaning contractors, we have been able to purchase our very own hāngī steamer. We will be using this to serve kai at our evening feast which will include meat/veg, veg, gluten free. The event will take place 4.30-7.00pm at the High School. Tickets will be limited and you will need to RSVP for the event- more details to follow later in the week.
Source: Te Iwa Matariki