Matariki
signals the Māori New Year. It is a time of renewal and celebration in
New Zealand the begins with the rising of the Matariki star cluster.
At Mairtown
Kindergarten we started our Matariki celebrations with our Harvest Table. Where whānau were able to share their
abundance of what they had a home and in their gardens, alongside heartfelt and positive
affirmations for the receiver.
To conclude our Matariki Celebrations, we have one of the most anticipated events at Mairtown Kindergarten. Our hangi, and lantern walk. Lots of excitement and preparations that happen in the weeks leading up to this wonderful event. Since Term 2, tamariki have been creating a beautiful art piece that are now a show case at the kindergarten, these were hung in our outdoor deck area on evening of our hangi. Carefully over a period of weeks the tamariki created Atua from the book “In the Beginning” By Peter Gossage based on the creation story. Tamariki hand painted their Atua onto wood donated from our whānau and now proudly hang for all our community to view.
Alongside this there
has lots of practicing of “This little light of mine”.
Whānau provided
amazing amounts of Kumara, Potatoes, Pumpkin and Cabbages for the hangi and banana leaves to line the baskets.
On the day of the hangi,
it is all go from 8.30am. Whānau come in
and help with the preparations for the hangi.
Fondly called “The Great Peel”, there is always a flurry of activity and
as a teaching team we are always humbled and grateful for the support.
Paraoa parai (Golden
puffs of deliciousness - fried bread) is made in the kitchen and fill’s the
kindergarten with wonderful smells!
“Matariki hunga, Matariki ahunga nui”
“Matariki has many
admirers, Matariki brings us together”
The kindergarten is
transformed and prepared for our whānau to return in the early evening.
It is wonderful to
watch as all our whānau come together with their tamariki. This event is open
to all our whānau and their extended whānau so this is an exciting time for
tamariki to share their space with all their whānau.
Once again Kelly illuminated
our environment with his musical skills.
Once the process of lifting of the hangi and blessing of the kai was complete, it was time to come together and enjoy our meal together, followed by beautiful desserts prepared by our whānau. Roasting of marshmallows on the fire and our lantern walk outside of the kindergarten concluded the lovely evening for us all.
The Mairtown teaching
team, would love to thank all our wonderful whānau who koha vegetables, prepare the stuffing, cooking of the bread, sourcing banana leaves and especially taking their time to awhi us all in making this another successful event! Also to
Kelly and Wiremu for once again sharing your
musical talents. All through the night whānau shared with us their appreciation of
feeling such a wonderful sense of whānaungatanga . Without our amazing whānau community
these events would not be as successful and we love to be able to send our appreciation
for you all.
"Children’s funds of knowledge are learnt in their whānau, communities and cultures and are brought to their early childhood setting. Funds of knowledge are gained through whānau, community and cultural practices and events, where children learn informally through observation and participation." (Ministry of Education)
Special thank you to
Finlay and Mason’s whānau Gayla and Doug Andrews, who over the years have
donated their Multi-kai hangi cookers for us to use. This year they organised for us to borrow one
from Alfie’s Split roast, thank you to Alf and Kayla who kindly lent us their multi-kai cooker!
Ngā mihi maioha.
Sarah