Te Aro ki a Matariki – Matariki Observance at Ara | Te Pūkenga

_{Early morning presentation at Te Puna Wānaka}

Ara | Te Pukenga kaimahi, ākonga and whānau have been taking part in events in the lead up to New Zealand’s first Te Hararei Tūmatanui (Public Holiday) for Te Kāhui o Matariki (The Stars of Matariki).

This Friday’s holiday puts mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) at the heart of the celebrations and recognises te ao Māori (a Māori worldview) calling people to gather, to celebrate, to remember and to plan for the future.

It also seeks to reaffirm a connection and commitment to the environment, and to encourage positive environment activities such as planting and cleaning waterways.

Director of Māori Achievement Tate Tiatia, who has overseen the marking of Matariki at Ara|Te Pūkenga said celebrations were set within a framework of five elements, Hono - Connect, Whakaaroaro - Reflect, Whakamana - Celebrate, Whakarite - Plan, and Whakaū - Act.

_{Planting at Kaiapoi pā}

“We encourage our community to create opportunities that foster connections to each other, and connections to our place in the world and the wellbeing of both at this time,” Tiatia said.

“What's really important to us here at Ara is that we create space to learn more about what Matariki means for us here in Aotearoa. Ara is committed to further understanding the significance of Mātauranga Māori for our kaimahi and ākonga and the significance of regional differences,” she said.

The optimum time to observe the rising of Matariki is in the phase of the moon known as Tangaroa, the moon of plenty. The Tangaroa moon phase occurs in the three or four days leading to a new moon and so dates shift from year to year.

“This is just one marker of the Māori New Year, also known as Te Matahi o Te Tau,” Tiatia said.

“Locally Ngāi Tahu acknowledge Puanga or Rigel as the marker of the Māori New Year while some iwi, particularly in the far north, acknowledge Matariki and start their celebrations much earlier.”

Two key events with connection and the environment at their heart have marked Matariki at Ara.

On 7 July a group of ākonga and kaimahi visited Ngāi Tahu’s historic Kaiapoi Pā, one of Aotearoa’s most significant cultural sites to learn about its history, explore the area, and contribute to the restoration of the whenua – tending native plantings and adding to the regeneration with 80 more.

Ara Manager, Te Ako me Te Tiaki i Te Taiao, Sustainability & Outdoor Education David Irwin who had participated in the event over its five-year history and said it was heartening to see some of the original plantings now stretching metres tall.

“It’s always great to check in on the progress of this mahi.  This year as well as weeding we added more native grasses, whauwhaupaku or five-fingers and tauhinu or mountain cottonwoods,” he said.

Those gathered enjoyed hearing Ara tutor Reimana Tūtengāehe share kōrero of the immense cultural significance Kaiapoi Pā, Aotearoa’s first historic reserve.

While it was too cloudy for a planned gathering at Waimairi beach to sight the Mataraiki cluster at dawn on 10 July, a group of ākonga, kaimahi and whanau were welcomed to Te Puna Wānaka by Matua Harry Westrupp to mark the day.

Sustainability and Outdoor Education tutor Rachael Pelvin and Tiatia spoke about the significance of the Matariki cluster to Aotearoa touching on the belief systems and cultural practices that surround it.

Kai was shared and games were played by those gathered wishing each other and all Mānawatia a Matariki!