News

Puna Kaupapa – Matariki with Marleina Ruka, Maree Mills and Myra Ruka

June 23, 2022

3 min read

Thank you to everyone who joined us on 23 June for the Puna Kaupapa – Matariki session with Marleina Ruka, Maree Mills and Myra Ruka. These waahine toa are Trustees of Te Ohu Whakaita Charitable Trust who host the Matariki ki Waikato Festival.

The recording of this insightful and educational hui is available here if you missed it. This session was about how Matariki ki Waikato Festival brings together a variety of organisations within the Waikato rohe to celebrate the kaupapa of Matariki and see in Maaori new year with events that span across the arts, music, hauora, taiao and education.

Matariki rere ki pae mahara | Matariki a time to remember and reflect

A few hui taonga and highlights from the session:

  • Matariki has always been acknowledged in some way as the changing of seasons and marking of the new year according to the maramataka. Although it is known as other names, it holds the same significance to many other cultures.

  • Matariki is about renewal. An opportunity to reflect on the past year. To celebrate the present, and who we are at this moment. And then to plan for the future, and build stronger connections with our whaanau, our environment, and our community.

  • Toi is Rongoaa  | Creative expression is wellbeing. “We believe that one of the best ways to communicate quite complex knowledges is through the arts.”

Te Ohu Whakaita Charitable Trust would like to hear if people have ideas of what they would like to see for Matariki ki Waikato, as this festival is ultimately for our communities. Learn more and get in touch via their website: www.matarikiwaikato.nz.

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