Mairtown Kindergarten: Celebrating the start of Matariki

Each year at Kindergarten we celebrate Matariki (Māori new year) with a series of special events. The start of Matariki began this year on June 28^thand to highlight this occasion today we held our regular Matariki Breakfast. Our Matariki breakfast celebration has become a much anticipated event, and thanks to Donna’s skills in the kitchen we had a selection of different foods to share with our whānau and tamariki.

Matariki marks the Maori New Year. The word translates as Mata Riki - Tiny Eyes, or Mata Ariki - Eyes of God.

The children's wonderful menu

Yesterday there was lots of discussion about the breakfast and the children decided to create this fabulous menu. What a welcome this was for our families and friends this morning. As you can see the kai on offer was Yoghurt, Toast, Sausages, Cereals, Fruit Salad, Porridge, Museli, Scrambled Eggs, Weetbix and Baked beans served with either Milo, Coffee or Tea :)

During Matariki, we celebrate our unique place in the world. We give respect to the whenua on which we live, and admiration to our mother earth, Papatūānuku.

Throughout Matariki, we learn about those who came before us. Our history, our family, our bones. Matariki signals growth. It's a time of change. It's a time to prepare, and a time of action. During Matariki, we acknowledge what we have and what we have to give.

Matariki celebrates the diversity of life. It's a celebration of culture, language, spirit and people.

Matariki is our Aotearoa Pacific New Year (Māori Language commission)

Of course we have to mention a big thank you to Donna for all her amazing cooking skills, and to everyone who came and enjoyed a delicious breakfast with us all. This is the last week of the term for us, but when we begin back in term 3 we will continue our Matariki celebrations with our Harvest Day on Tuesday 22^nd July and our annual Hāngi and Lantern Parade (an evening to definitely mark in your dairies) on Friday 25^th July. We also welcome back our lovely teacher Zair, who returns after maternity leave.

Our Matariki breakfast also enabled us to say a sad farewell to Susie. Susie has been with us since October last year as a long-term reliever, yet has become a very much valued and respected member of our team. We have seen Susie grow and blossom so much as a teacher in the time she has been with us at Mairtown, and I know everyone will miss her. Today was a wonderful opportunity to be able to say thank you to Susie for all her hard work, to wish her well in the future and to present her with a lovely gift basket (with items generously donated by our families) as well as a gorgeous card beautifully illustrated by the children.