Our Special Matariki Evening

On the 21st June the Matariki star cluster rose into our skies signalling the beginning of a month of celebration and entertainment. We honoured the beginning of Matariki with a delicious breakfast celebration. Last night, a month on, it was time to celebrate the end of Matariki.

Since returning to Kindergarten for the beginning of a new term this week, we have talked a great deal about Matariki with the children, and there has been lots of organising and planning going on!

Carrying one of the hāngī baskets inside

This year we thought it would be wonderful to share a hāngī (a taonga of the Maori culture) on the night with our tamariki and whanau. This was a huge success and absolutely delicious – a real treat. A hāngī takes a lot of preparation however, and many of the children have been hard at work since Wednesday grating and peeling carrots for the tasty stuffing, preparing fires and organising seating for their families.

Here is everyone practising their singing of 'This little light of mine'.

After arranging some seats Katie told us "I think this is where my family will sit".

Matariki kanohi iti 

The tiny eyes of Matariki

Below is a small slideshow of all the preparations.


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Our Kindergarten looked fantastic on the night, the salt dough stars twinkled on the tree, the candles flickered, the food smelt delicious and the fire was stunning. As everyone arrived it was wonderful to see the work that had clearly gone into making lanterns; and it was lovely to have all the lanterns looking so different and unique. mmmmmmm

Matariki ahunga nui

Matariki provider of plentiful food

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmAfter the hāngī and some delicious dessert, we all enjoyed some toasted marshmallows around the fire along with a good old fashioned sing-a-long, thanks to Glenn on his guitar. Eventually it was time for a really special part of the evening (and the growing anticipation was evident amongst the children!) – it was time for the lantern parade.

Although a little dark, here is a little video clip of the parade mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

It was a truly wonderful night, and so lovely to welcome lots of past children, extended family and friends into our Kindergarten. We would like to say a big ‘thank-you’ to all of our Kindergarten whanau for their donations of food and time, to Reana for blessing our kai, and to Glenn for his awesome musical talent - without everyone's help this would not have been such a fantastic celebration.. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Some more photos from the evening.

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Matariki atua ka eke mai i te rangi e roa,

E whāngainga iho ki te mata o te tau e roa e.

Divine Matariki come forth from the far-off heaven,

Bestow the first fruits of the year upon us.

Christine