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ANDY MACDONALD / STUFF
Last year’s Matariki festival in Nelson.
Kapa haka, live music, a night market and lantern displays will light up Matariki commemorations in Nelson and Tasman this week.
A family fun event to celebrate the Māori New Year will be held at the Washbourn Gardens in Richmond from 5pm on Thursday. The Harmony Hunters band will perform, and there will be kapa haka, fire performances and a star-themed treasure hunt in recognition of the Matariki constellation.
The Tasman District Council is also running a Matariki light competition, featuring lanterns, light sculptures and light displays that will be on display at the gardens. Votes can be cast on the council’s Facebook page.
In Motueka, Matariki celebrations will be held on Friday in Decks Reserve from 6pm-8pm, with a performance by Te Oroa Hā, music, food, stargazing and kanikani (dances).
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ANDY MACDONALD / STUFF
Performers at last year’s Nelson Matariki celebrations.
In Nelson, a regional secondary school haka competition will turn this year’s Matariki commemorations into a day-long celebration on the Matariki public holiday this Friday.
The competition, Taku Kara Tipuna, will open in the Tragalgar Centre from 9am on Friday, with six school teams competing for a place in the national finals next year.
The Matariki Night Market (Mākete Pō) Nwill run from 5pm-9pm in the adjoining Rutherford Park, featuring a variety of arts, crafts and kai plus live music, light art and a fire poi performance.
Entry is by gold coin koha that will be donated to Whakatū Te Korowai Manaakitanga Trust, a charitable group providing social services incorporating Māori values throughout the region.
The entertainment includes singer songwriter Maaka Fiso, singer and actress Awhimai Fraser and the Modern Māori Quartet.
There will be no fireworks at this year’s Matariki event in Nelson.
The Nelson event will not have fireworks this year. After consultation with iwi, the council said in a statement it had made the decision in line with guidance from the Matariki Advisory Committee which advised the Government last year that fireworks did not align with te taiao (environmental awareness) of the celebration.
“Matariki is a time to reflect and to look ahead to the future, come together and celebrate who we are,” said council chief executive Nigel Philpott.
“We will look to hold a fireworks display at another, more suitable time in the year.”
The Victory Community Centre will hold its annual Matariki event on July 21 with school and community performances, hot soup, a hāngi, including a vegetarian option, and a lantern hīkoi along the Railway Reserve.
Nelson mayor Nick Smith said the festival was an opportunity for the community to learn more about kaupapa Māori, bring family together and celebrate the region’s diversity with food and entertainment.
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