Mānawatia a Matariki!

This year’s theme of Matariki herenga waka is all about inclusion and encouraging all people to celebrate Matariki together. ‘Matariki herenga waka’ is an adaptation of the proverb ‘Tāmaki herenga waka’ which means ‘Tāmaki the gathering place of many canoes’.

“He ngangahau, he kanorau hoki te tāone o Tāmaki Makaurau, e kīia nei ko ‘Tāmaki herenga waka’. Ko Matariki herenga waka e tohu ana i a Tāmaki hei taunga, hei wāhi hui, hei kāinga hoki. Ko tāna, he whakaata i te whakaaro ki tā Matariki tūhono i a tātou katoa ahakoa ō tātou ao o mua, ō tātou ahurea, ō tātou pūtakenga mai rānei" te kī a te Tumu Whakarae o te Manatū Taonga, a Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae.

“Auckland is a vibrant and diverse city often referred to as the ‘city of sails’. Matariki herenga waka symbolises that Tāmaki is a place of arrival, gathering, and belonging. It reflects the idea that Matariki connects us all, regardless of background, culture, or origin” says Chief Executive for Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae.

See www.matariki.com for events in your rohe.

Lighting up Matariki

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will host the nationally broadcast Matariki hautapu from Tāmaki Makaurau on Friday 10 July. One of the highlights in Auckland is a connected ara toi (art trail) created by a collective of young Ngāti Whātua ringa toi (artists) - Arama Tamariki-Enua, Caine Taihia, Uira Nahi and Maraea Shaw - in collaboration with Angus Muir Design. The Tūhono light path will be lit up until 18 July and extends from Te Kōmititanga (Commercial Bay) through Takutai Square - Britomart and along the downtown waterfront to Māhuhu-ki-te-Rangi Park (Te Tōangaroa).

tuhono-light-path/

The Aronui Arts Festival’s Matariki drone show in Rotorua returns from July 9 to 11, beginning at 8pm each night.A record 550 drones will light up the night sky, with organisers offering a “stunning display of light, sound and Māori storytelling to honour Matariki”.

Instagram www.instagram.com/aronuiartsfestival/ @aronuiartsfestival

In Ōtepoti the historic Iona Church/ Te Whare Karakia Iona o Kōputai/ Port Chalmers will be lit up with an array of lights and open for visitors 6-9pm from 9-12 July. The pulpit will be available for any performances in an open-mic style - just show up, with song, poem, prose and share with anyone who might be there!

*Artist Diane Price on Courtenay Place. Photography credit: Chantelle Gribbon*

And in Te Whanganui a Tara The Courtenay Place light boxes are displaying Diane Prince's Te Whakanui i a Matariki - a series of drawings that depict traditional kai, reflecting on survival and the tenacity it takes to survive. This public space exhibition will continue until 4 October

public-art/light-boxes/courtenay-place

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Matariki Herenga Waka - For everyone

Lighting up Matariki