Latest news with #MāoriNewYear
1News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- 1News
Matariki celebrated across NZ with ceremony and reflection
New Zealanders right around the country have been celebrating Matariki, with many of them up well before dawn to watch the rising of the star cluster which heralds the start of the Māori New Year. It became an official public holiday only in 2022, but it's already become one of our most meaningful days and the first holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori. It was the first new public holiday since Waitangi Day became a public holiday in 1974. The date of Matariki changes from year to year, but it will always fall in June or July. A public holiday is held for Matariki on June 20, 2025. (Source: Ngāti Rangi hosted this year's national Matariki ceremony at Tirorangi Marae at the base of Mount Ruapehu. ADVERTISEMENT Iwi spokesperson Che Wilson told 1News it was a "huge honour" to be the first marae to host the national holiday ceremony. "It's truly a privilege to welcome everyone here," he said. "It means a great deal to us." Wilson explained that the Matariki celebrations would include offering karakia to specific stars in alignment with their Puanga traditions. "In our Puanga narrative, we'll offer them to four atua – Tāne, Rongo, Tangaroa, and Maru [the gods of forest, cultivated food, the sea, and war]." The Māori Queen, politicians, and dignitaries attended the national ceremony. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said having events across the country was a "real kotahitanga moment". "To bring it to national presence and international presence is something that connects us to the universe, and that's really important for us, that we see our tikanga as a way of life, as a daily platform for kotahitanga. And for me, it also connects to many, many other people from throughout the world." ADVERTISEMENT It was also a poignant moment for European Union ambassador to New Zealand Lawrence Meredith, who lost his father when he was young. "This whole transition for the ancestors is a really powerful message, the idea that ancestors become stars," he said. Hautapu ceremony at Auckland's Bastion Point this morning. (Source: 1News) Hundreds gathered at Auckland's Bastion Point to ring in the Māori New Year this morning with a hautapu ceremony. Food and steam were offered to the stars of Matariki as an offering of thanks from the umu or hāngī. The kai that is prepared for the hautapu connects to four different whetū (stars) in the Matariki cluster: Seafood with the star Waitā; freshwater kai with the star Waitī; kai from above the ground with the star Tupuārangi; and kai from the earth with the star Tupuānuku. Many were up well before dawn to watch the rising of the star cluster. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT Kingi Makoare (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) said it was awesome to see the eagerness from people to learn about Māori culture. "It's heartwarming to see people really interested in us." Fiona Smith (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) added that it was a "great reflection of what New Zealand really should be". "Together, collaborative right from the beginning, standing shoulder to shoulder, doing things together, holding hands together." A maumaharatanga ceremony on Mauao/Mount Maunganui. (Source: 1News) In Tauranga, people of all ages summitted Mauao / Mount Maunganui before dawn for a remembrance of loved ones who had died in the past year. Te Puna I Rangiriri trust chairman Jack Thatcher led the maumaharatanga ceremony and said it was a "very emotional" morning. ADVERTISEMENT Maumaharatanga translates to memorial, memory or recollection. Grieving families and friends were invited to place their hands on the monument Te Tapuātea o Mauao and call out the names of their loved ones. "We have people bringing a lot of hurt. To call out the names of the loved ones that they're missing gives them a chance to heal and carry on," Thatcher said.
1News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- 1News
King Charles' Matariki message to New Zealand
King Charles has addressed a Matariki message to New Zealand ahead of the public holiday. "E mihi ana ki a Matariki mā Puanga," the King said. "My wife and I send our warmest greetings to all those in Aotearoa New Zealand celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year. "This year, I particularly acknowledge those iwi and regions that look to the star Puanga, or Rigel, to signal the New Year." King Charles said the rising of Matariki and Puanga on the Eastern horizon heralded a time to reflect on the past, to remember absent loved ones and to prepare for a prosperous future. ADVERTISEMENT "It also marks a time where many different peoples and communities come together in celebration, united under the same night sky," he said. "Regardless of how, or whether, one marks the lunar calendar, this moment offers an opportunity to learn and share knowledge, and to embrace the diverse traditions that shape Aotearoa New Zealand's unique identity. "I wish you all a bright year ahead. Mānawatia a Matariki."
1News
12 hours ago
- General
- 1News
Matariki celebrated with events across London
Matariki is being celebrated on the other side of the world to the Pacific, with educational and performance events taking place in London. Storytelling workshops are being held at the National Maritime Museum in the afternoon Friday (local time) to hear about the cultural significance of the Matariki star cluster, with perspectives on traditions and practices being shared from not only Aotearoa, but also Kiribati, Samoa and the Cook Islands. Robbie Atatoa resided in Hamilton, but was from the Cook Island's second largest island of Mangaia. "I think it is important to share and learn not only about our taonga here but also knowledge around Matariki, how we see Matariki in our island… what Matariki meant in our community. "Of course, it's the revitalisation of our knowledge and our practices that goes with Matariki," Atatoa said. ADVERTISEMENT He was currently on a short residency at the museum, where he is carving traditional Mangaian toki (ceremonial adze). He has been linked to the museum since he identified the Mangaian origin of taonga on display, he said. Atatoa said there was a growing awareness of Matariki across the Pacific, because of efforts from Professor Rangi Matamua to see the event understood. "It's always been there and I believe across the Pacific but now it's becoming more… bringing out in the community to acknowledge our own practices and keep it going for the generations to come." Atatoa said on Mangaia, there's an event called takurua mataiti during Matariki, with 'taka rua' meaning feast and 'mataiti' meaning new year. "In that event it's an opportunity for our puna, or our village, to come together in celebration of the first harvest." He said the event is also a time to plan for the year ahead, as it is for Māori, with decisions on what crops to grow and if certain fishing stocks are healthy enough to be a sustainable food source in the year ahead. A sold-out event is being held Friday evening UK time at the Royal Observatory to mark Matariki. ADVERTISEMENT A karakia and introduction to the star cluster will be held by Jamie Tahana. On Saturday UK time, Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club are holding a festival at the Pacific Tavern in London, to mark the Māori New Year. Ngāti Rānana, Beats of Polynesia and On The Pā will perform.
NZ Herald
13 hours ago
- General
- NZ Herald
Matariki in Rotorua: Whānau Day draws crowds for cultural events
When you've spent several years as Māori living in Australia like the Kanara whānau, celebrating Matariki in a place like Rotorua is extra special. They were among the hundreds who flowed through the gates at Te Puia today to celebrate Matariki (the Māori New Year) at the Whānau Day. It
1News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- 1News
New classrooms for Kura Kaupapa announced
The government has announced $28 million will be spent on building more "safe, warm and dry classrooms" for tāmariki in Māori full immersion schools. Twenty new classrooms will be built across four providers, and work will begin on the first stage of a new school north of Auckland. Eight classrooms at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Ara Whanui in Lower Hutt Six classrooms at Te Wharekura o Arowhenua in Invercargill Four classrooms at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hokianga in Kaikohe Two classrooms at Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa in Hamilton The new development, for Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāringaomatariki in Kaiwaka, will eventually have 19 classrooms, Minister of Education Erica Stanford said on Friday. "This Matariki, I am proud to be celebrating the Māori New Year with investing in the future of our tāmariki so they have the spaces and support they need to flourish." ADVERTISEMENT Construction on the modular buildings is expected to begin in the next 12 months. "Safe, warm and dry learning environments are essential for effective teaching and learning," Stanford said. "By using modular construction, we can deliver classrooms more quickly and make our investment go further." She said it was part of a $50 million Budget allocation to deliver 50 new classrooms for Māori medium and Kaupapa Māori education. "We remain committed to properly resourcing our bilingual education system and lifting achievement for Māori students. That includes ensuring our tāmariki have warm, safe and dry classrooms to thrive in," Stanford said. The announcement was made at Takaparawhau, Bastion Point, during Matariki Hautapu celebrations with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. National did not support making Matariki a holiday when it became one in 2022.
