Matariki mā Puanga

Tuesday, 24th June 2025 at 11:55am

The mist had settled, the rain gently fell, the wind blew softly, and people arrived at Arataki Visitors Centre for our Matariki Celebrations.

Our manu tīoriori (songbirds), our kākā wahanui (orators) of Te Ahi Kā sang waiata and shared pūrākau (stories) about the ancestors of Te Kawerau ā Maki, of Tainui waka that are depicted in the kauri pou that stands as kaitiaki, a manu tāiko (sentry bird) for Te Wao nui o Tiriwā (Waitākere Ranges) and the tomokanga (entrance way) to Arataki Visitors Centre.

Noele Banicevich - Year 13 tauira (student) - called out the names of each of our loved ones who had passed since the last rising of Matariki. As each whānau member came up to receive a rau kawakawa (kawakawa leaf), which was a representation of their loved one, it was lovingly woven into a wreath by the tender hands of Whaea Leanne Castle.

Then Matariki rose, Puanga rose, and the dawn maiden Hineruhi brought forward the dawn. There concluded the sacred part of our ceremony. This ended with the sharing of food, conversation, and laughter. A perfect way to end a beautiful early morning and a delightful way to conclude the final journey of walking the pepeha of our kura. The rangatira we cite in our pepeha are illustrated in the kauri pou.

We would like to thank all who celebrated Matariki mā Puanga with us, as well as the GBHS whānau for making the morning a success.

A special mention and thank you to Jack Jones and Sina Creevey of Auckland City Council for allowing us to be in that space at Arataki to conduct our celebration.

Mānawatia a Matariki mā Puanga!