New Zealand fashion and lifestyle blog

Matariki at the Museum

LATE at the Museum kicked off Matariki in style, a preview for the month of celebrations starting 4 June. There are many events on in Auckland to join in the celebration of the continuation of life despite the darkness of winter and many are free…

LATE at the Museum kicked off Matariki in style last night, a kind of preview for the month of Matariki celebrations that start at dawn on Saturday 4 June with a karakia on top of Maungakiekie.

Matariki is the M?ori name for the constellation known as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters, and its pre-dawn appearance in the mid-winter sky marks the end of the old year and the beginning of the new.

Matariki is a time for planting and renewal, a time to look forward to the warmth of spring,

The smart talk at LATE this month thus focused on the renewal of the traditional festival of Matariki in the last decade or so, with an increased presence in the minds of all New Zealanders.

The panel, chaired by Kirk Torrance, was made up of musician and academic Te Ahukaramu Charles Royal,

…historian and story teller Pita Turei, musician Whirimako Black,

and Director of M?ori Partnerships at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Haare Williams.

This erudite and loquacious bunch brought Matariki to life with passion – Williams’ heartfelt plea that all New Zealanders embrace the festival as their own resonated with an eager crowd who left the M?ori Court to listen to the gorgeous Whirimako Black chattering of the ways in which they might celebrate Matariki – New Zealand’s New Year.

There are many ways in which Aucklanders can participate in this festival, a celebration of the continuation of life despite the darkness of winter – check out www.matarikifestival.org.nz for full listings of events in your area.

Many events are free. Highlights include tree planting days in the various regional parks, with free BBQ lunch provided for those who plant; also a must-see will be the final event of the month-long celebrations, the Manu Aute Kite Day at Orakei Marae on July 2.

As part of the Museum’s Matariki celebrations, this Queen’s Birthday weekend a special visitor will be present – a taniwha has been spotted in the Domain duck pond, and it has agreed to take up residence in the Museum Atrium – check out http://www.aucklandmuseum.com for visiting hours.

We’ll be there Monday saying ‘Kia ora taniwha’ as a way of welcoming in the New Year – ng? mihi o te tau hou!

By Kate Hannah, 2 June 2011.


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