Matariki at Māoriland
Matariki atua ka eke mai i tē rangi e roa, e Whangainga iho ki tē mata ō tē tau e roa
Divine Matariki come forth from the far off heaven.
Bestow the first fruits of the year upon us.
Matariki, the Māori New Year, is a time for gathering together, reflecting on the year that has been, celebrating our successes and remembering those who have passed away.
We look forward to sharing Matariki with our community with a range of events at the Māoriland Hub (68 Main Street, Ōtaki – the old Edhouse’s building)
HAIKU MATARIKI
A Haiku is a poem of seventeen syllables that is set out in three lines of
five
seven
five
Compose a Haiku containing the word “Matariki”. Hand deliver by sliding it under the front door of the Māoriland Hub (68 Main Street), email us at [email protected] it or send it to P.O Box 16 Ōtaki. Include your name, age and contact details and you could win a prize!
25 June
3 pm
$5
The Mooncake & The Kūmara
The Mooncake and the Kūmara is coming to Ōtaki in this special one-off reading of the play.
Nearly ninety years ago on a New Zealand market garden, two families, one Māori and the other Chinese, became part of a romance that would uproot their lives over generations.
Layered with myth and fable, The Mooncake and the Kūmara is a moving story about a mixed-up, Māori-Chinese love affair that sprouts among rows of potatoes. Told in a rich mixture of English, Māori and Cantonese, The Mooncake and the Kūmara is the debut, award-winning play by Māori-Chinese playwright Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen.
Loosely based on the story of her grandparents’ relationship, this is a story about history, duty, secrets and the delicate balance needed to grow families.
The reading will be followed by a short Q&A with the writer Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen and director Katie Wolfe. It is presented by Totaranui Productions and Māoriland Charitable Trust, in association with Kia Mau Festival, The Oryza Foundation for Asian Performing Arts and Betsy & Mana Productions.
The play was co-produced by Auckland Arts Festival and premiered at Auckland Arts Festival 2015.
$5 koha appreciated. Free for Māoriland Social Club Members. To make a reservation, email [email protected]
29 June
5 pm
free
Para Kore Kōrero with Te Kawa Robb
Para Kore means Zero Waste. Humans are the only species on the planet that don’t live by zero waste principles. The natural world does not create waste. Everything at the end of its life, whether it’s a plant or animal, becomes part of another system. A dead insect becomes kai for another insect, a tree that falls in the bush will rot and provide nutrients to the earth for new growth. Everything in nature is part of a closed, continuous, endless cycle.
Zero Waste is a call to action that aims to end the current take, make, and dispose of mentality of human society. Zero Waste is a policy, a path, a target. It is a process, a new way of thinking. Most of all it is a vision. It’s a new planning approach that closes the loop so that all waste is a resource for another process.
Māoriland Charitable Trust has recently become a member of the Para Kore movement.
Te Kawa Robb will join us to explain the origins of the Para Kore movement and how we can all minimise our production of waste. A short film will follow the kōrero.
1 – 7 July
10 am – 4 pm
free
Matariki Wish Trees
Matariki atua ka eke mai I te rangi roa, e whangainga I hoki te mata o te tau roa
To Matariki the stars that herald the return of light bringing new life, new growth
Come along to the Māoriland Hub and make a wish for the coming year. Then tie it to one of the Matariki Wish Trees and put it out to the universe to respond.
4 – 5 July
3:30 – 5 pm
free
Matariki Hīnātore
Hīnātore is a glow or glimmering in the dark. Come to the Māoriland Hub to decorate recycled plastic with glow in the dark paint.
The finished decorations will be revealed at the Glo in the Dark “Kanikani Hīnātore” for Tamariki during the Matariki street party.
4 – 5 July
3:30 – 5 pm
free
Matariki – He Whakamarama
A Video lecture on Matariki by Dr Rangi Mataamua (Tūhoe)
“The story goes that when Ranginui and Papatūānuku separated, Tāwhirimātea, the god of the wind, warred with his brothers and plucked out his own eyes and threw them at Ranginui”, Dr Mataamua says. “His eyes stuck to the chest of Ranginui and those are said to be the eyes [mata] of the god [ariki] Tāwhirimātea.
Dr Mataamua has had a lifelong interest in the stars. “My grandfather on my pākehā side is an astronomer, he had star maps, and telescopes and talked to me about Greek mythology. My Māori grandfather talked about Matariki and other stars.” In this video presentation, Dr Mataamua discusses the finding of two newly discovered stars that have been added to the seven sisters and the confusion between the solar calendar and the moon calendar.
MATARIKI STREET PARTY
7 July
6:15 – 7:30 pm
free
Matariki Kiriata Poto
A rolling programme of Matariki film screenings will screen from 6:15 – 7:30 pm. Audience members are invited to enter at any time, with respect to those who are already viewing.
This programme will include Matariki – an explanation voiced by Te Waari Carkeek and Short films from around the world. These films are suitable for all ages.
7 July
8 – 9 pm
free
Glo in the Dark “Kanikani Hīnātore: for Tamariki
Come to the Māoriland Hub for a black light glo in the dark dance party.
There will be Glo in the Dark FACE painting with spot prizes for the best dance moves and best glow in the dark costumes!
The Matariki Hīnātore created earlier in the week will be on display for everyone to enjoy!
16 July
5:30 pm
karakia at 6 pm
free
Our Mothers Recipes
Every whānau has a “Mothers recipe”. In honour of the mothers of our community, you are all invited to prepare your own “Mothers recipe” to bring along for a shared kai at the Māoriland Hub.
Bring your Mothers recipe (hot and ready to eat) along with a plate and cutlery and share in the deliciousness. We can all avoid single-use plastics when we reuse and recycle!
On the night, we will have a filmmaker on site – we invite you all to share your special stories of the meals you have chosen to bring and share.
Our Mothers Recipes starts at 5.30pm, Karakia at 6pm, please RSVP to [email protected]
19 July
7 pm,
23 July
3 pm
$6
SEED: The Untold Story
Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. SEED: The Untold Story follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000-year-old food legacy.
In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food.
In a harrowing and heartening story, these reluctant heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a culture connected to seeds. SEED features Vandana Shiva, Dr Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbrell, Winona Laduke and Raj Patel.
Seed swap after each screening. Two screenings, Wednesday, July 19th 7 pm, Sunday July 23rd 3 pm.