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Kathryn George/Stuff
Tell us what Matariki means to you and your plans for this year.
WRITE ON STUFF: Friday marks New Zealand’s second Matariki as a public holiday.
The sighting of the star cluster, also known as Pleiades, marks the begining of the Māori New Year – te Mātahi o te Tau. It’s a time to farewell the dead, release their spirits to become stars, honour tūpuna, and celebrate life. It’s about reflection, being thankful to the gods for kai, and to feast and share the bounty of the harvest with whānau and friends.
Across the motu, Kiwis are set to embrace the spirit of Matariki in a range of ways.
In Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Karangahape Road is set to light up on Thursday with the Te Karanga a Hape street party. This year’s event theme is He Ara Matarau or Pathway of Diversity, acknowledging the kaleidoscope of cultures, identities, colours, sounds, flavours, unforgettable sights and sensory delights that create the all-inclusive road.
In Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) there will, be a range of family-friendly events on the Paihia waterfront celebrating the rise of Puanga and Matariki. There will also be a dawn cruise from Paihia and Kororāreka. On-board guides and tohunga will tell those on board about the traditions behind Matariki, what it means to Te Ao Māori and how to identify Puanga and the Matariki cluster rising in the Eastern sky.
Meanwhile, the Ngaa Paki o Matariki event will bring together the two largest kaupapa Māori events for Waikato high school students on the biennial calendar: speech competition Ngā Manu Kōrero, and the Tainui Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competitions. It will aim to capture and embolden the spirit of Matariki, symbolising new beginnings, reflection, and the gathering of communities.
We want Stuff readers to share how they plan to embrace and celebrate Matariki this year.
What are your plans to celebrate Matariki, and who will you celebrate it with?
Why is Matariki important to you and your whānau?
Who are the loved ones you will be remembering this weekend?
What kai will you be eating?
Has celebrating Matariki become a tradition for you and your whānau since it was first made a public holiday last year? Tell us why.
We’re looking for submissions of between 400 and 800 words to be published in Stuff Nation. To share your plans for Matariki, hit the contribute button. Share photos of yourself, your whānau, and what you’re up to for the best chance of your submission being published. App users email: stuffnation@stuff.co.nz.
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