‘Lit’ events celebrating Matariki

A ‘lit’ programme of activities and events is planned around the Far North to celebrate Matariki, our newest public holiday.

While Matariki will be officially marked on Friday 14 July, the range of cultural enrichments on offer aren’t restricted to just one day – there are plenty of options for Far North residents and visitors marking this important time of reflection as well as celebration.

Te Āhuareka o Matariki is a district-wide programme of workshops and events that support and revive traditional Māori art, skills and mātauranga. Workshops include Tukutuku craft making, Ngā Tākaro traditional Māori games, a Toikupu Matariki poetry competition, Hauora Tangata traditional holistic healing, Matariki night markets, as well as wānanga on arts, music, sustainability and researching Māori land.

A variety of these events will run from 4 July to 27 July at venues including Te Ahu Museum in Kaitāia, Kaikohe Library, Procter Library in Kerikeri and Te Hononga in Kawakawa. Programme creators, Whatu Creative, received $5,000 from Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board, $5,000 from Te Hiku Community Board and $2,000 from Bay of Island-Whangaroa Community Board. Find the full programme details here.

Buildings on Rāwene’s main street will be illuminated for a week, for the Matariki Nights of Light, thanks to light installations designed through a collaboration by local artists. The ‘lit’ week will start on Friday 14 July with a free party at the town hall for local tamariki and their whānau – prizes, food and fun provided. The Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board contributed $700 towards costs, with many local business owners offering to cover power costs to run the lights.

Matariki Pēwhairangi Bay of Islands Festival is another big entry on the Matariki calendar with several events running from 30 June to 22 July. Te Tau Hou Māori Puanga Matariki Celebrations is a free festival on Paihia’s waterfront starting at 4pm on Friday 14 July. Street food, crafts and music at the Paihia Village Green will be followed by Puanga Matariki, a choreographed display of fireworks and waka at 7pm, which includes a narration, waiata and traditional taonga puoro instruments. Bookable events in this programme include a star gazing dawn cruise, a range of ‘feast’ events, and the two-day Brew of Islands Beer Festival at the Turner Centre in Kerikeri. Visit the Paihia200 webpage for more information.

Under the umbrella of these celebrations in the Bay of Islands is a creative ‘hub’ that will be located on the Paihia Village Green on Friday 14 July and Saturday 15 July. Six workshops including poi making, interactive music and kōrero sessions will be held at a ‘drop in’ marquee. Meraki Paihia received funding from the Bay of Island-Whangaroa Community Board of $3992 for the cost of the marquee hire and sound system, as well as receiving $2,000 from the Creative Communities scheme to run the workshops. Matariki themed stencils designed by intermediate students will also be distributed to local businesses to display on windows during Matariki. The full programme of Meraki Paihia workshops will be released at the end of this week on its Facebook page.