This year we had our first community celebration of Matariki,  a celebration of Maori art forms; storytyelling, toi whakairo, korero, and waiata/kapa haka. Various Art forms like Matariki, can make connections between past, present, future, young and old, tangible and intangible. Sometimes there are connections between contradictions – art forms combine clarity with obscurity, they reveal and conceal, they can be both blatant and subtle, they can divide and unite, attack and protect, lead to and from.

We began with storytelling with the Stuffy crew  presenting their version of Matariki and what it means.  As usual, the cast performed with energy and ensured that everyone in the audience discovered something new and interesting about  Matariki and its’ relevance.

Amaya Harris ,year 7, wrote a wonderful speech on what it is to be Maori in Aotearoa. Although she couldn’t be present, Mr Jensen read a speech that spoke about the positives of being Maori and why the culture is such an important and powerful part of Aotearoa.

The CARVING BOYS –  have continued to create interesting work in a variety of media. Last year they carved in insulation material, and then shaped their Patu from pine. This year their materials were MDF, gib plaster board and concrete. Carlow  Nixon described the process and then certificates and badges were presented to celebrate all their mahi.

Cordage strengthened by plying, and strength comes with the combination of people’s skills and talents. And this was evident as the kapa haka worked together with whanau in plaiting a simple length of cordage. One of the important aspirations of Matariki is connectivity and this “workshop” was a good example of this.

Kapa haka completed our Matariki celebration. Wonderful kids, so keen. Our waiata have so many themes; welcoming, hauling canoes, celebrating nature, supporting friends and whanau, the Treaty, keeping the memory of Princess Te Puea Herangi with us in her timeless waiata E NOHO TUHEITEA.