Celebrating Matariki - Kite making
Friday 10 June 2016
Matariki atua, ka eke mai i te rangi e roa,
e whanainga iho ke to mata o te tau,
e roa e.
Matariki, the divine,
you have come from hither,
from distant skies to bestow the first fruits of the year upon us
Matariki is a small cluster of stars, also known as Pleiades. To Māori, the appearance of Matariki and Puanga (Rigel) signal the end of one year, and the beginning of the next. Traditionally Māori have recognised the rise of Matariki as a time to celebrate the New Year.
Towards the end of May each year, Matariki rises in the lightening dawn, at the same place on the horizon as the rising sun. The Māori New Year celebrations are then held, on the sighting of the next new moon. In olden times Matariki celebrations were held after the crops had been harvested and stored, whereupon huge feasts (hakari) and merry-making (Nga-Mahi-a-te-Rehia) ensued for several weeks during "down time" (from cultivation).
The Pukeko learners and parents all had fun making kites with traditional and non-traditional items. Some very clever kite makers at West Melton School!
To the stars that herald the return of light,
Bringing new growth new life...
