Mānawatia a Matariki!

Matariki is a time of reflection, celebration and preparation.

In 2025, Matariki and Puanga are celebrated between 19 – 22 June. For the team at KMR, it’s about time to reflect in what can be a busy time, with planting and winter projects really gearing up.

For Lisette,

I am organising a planting day at my marae to encourage connection to the marae and each other.  We finish the planting session with kai and then a hapū hui to keep up to date on broader (catchment, regional, and Treaty) matters.

For Darren,

On Thursday (19th) I’m attending my 5 year old’s Matariki dawn celebration with her bilingual unit in Mangawhai (Te Reo Hīnātore) where they karakia/karanga to each star – then send their wishes for the next year off to Hiwa i te rangi.

Then on Friday me and the whānau are off to my marae for a Matariki wānanga, followed by Saturday collecting kai for each of the stars, and then a hautapu and umu kohukohu whetū on the Saturday (that’s when the kai you collect gets cooked and the steam of the food feeds the stars and your dead relatives in the heavens above)

For Ben, he’s trying to learn the names of the stars through a song taught to him by his 4 year old daughter and has extended family coming to stay for the long weekend.

Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki
Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi
Mānawa maiea te Mātahi o te tau

Celebrate the rising of Matariki
Celebrate the rising of the lord of the sky
Celebrate the rising of the New Year

Image credit – National Geographic NZ