I whakanuia a Matariki e tētahi 5000 tāngata ki Pēwhairangi i ngā rangi whakatā kātahi anō ka hipa.
Nā te iwi te kaupapa o Te Tau Hou Māori Puanga Matariki i whakarite, ā, he nui ngā mahi whakangahau, ngā puoro, me ngā papa mahi hei whakarekareka i te katoa. I tīmata ngā kaupapa mā te hapori i te rā, ā, ka tō ana te rā, ka tīmata tētahi whakaaturanga mīharo ki te taha moana o Paihia.
I tīmata te whakaaturanga ki tētahi waiata rōreka nā Kawiti Waetford, tētahi kaipuoro whakaari nō roto o Te Tai Tokerau. Kātahi ka whakaatuhia mai ētahi pūrākau e pā ana ki ngā mate o te tau, te taenga mai o Kupe, me te ahunga mai o Matariki. He pūrākau whakahirahira tēnei, nā Ngāti Kawa Taituha rāua ko Heeni Hoterene i tuhi, ka whakamārama te pūrākau nei i te hiranga o Puanga ki te iwi o Ngāpuhi.
Hei tā te pou tikanga mō Matariki Pēwhairangi, hei tā Heeni Hoterene, “Ki ahau nei, e honohono ana ngā ahurea e rua, ā, e whakamana ana hoki i te ahurea Māori me ngā tikanga Māori. Kua roa tātou e noho wehe ana, heoi, ko ngā whetū ērā e whakapiripiri ana i a tātou.”
Ka haere tonu te hui taurima Matariki Pēwhairangi mō tētahi wiki anō, ā, ko ētahi anō kaupapa, ko ngā whakaaturanga toi me ngā hākari namunamuā.
AUDIO FILE
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
A Matariki celebration was enjoyed by around 5000 people in the Bay of Islands over the weekend.
The Te Tau Hou Māori Puanga Matariki Celebrations were organized by the local iwi and had lots of fun activities, music, and workshops for everyone to enjoy. The celebrations started during the day with different community activities, and as the day turned into evening, there was a fantastic show along the Paihia waterfront.
The show began with a beautiful song by Kawiti Waetford, a talented opera singer from Northland. Then, there was a story that talked about important things like those who have passed away, the arrival of Kupe, and the creation of Matariki. This special story, written by Ngāti Kawa Taituha and Heeni Hoterene, also explained the significance of the star Puanga to the Ngāpuhi people.
Heeni Hoterene, the cultural director of Matariki Pēwhairangi, said, “I felt that different cultures were finally coming together and showing respect for Māori customs and traditions. We have been apart for a long time, and now the stars are bringing us all closer.”
The Matariki Pēwhairangi Festival will continue for one more week, with art exhibitions and delicious feast experiences.
