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NGÄ ROHETAKITIMUMATARIKI SHINES BRIGHTLYACROSS TAKITIMUBack in 2001 Ngäti Kahungunu IwiIncorporation wanted to revive theMatariki tradition by making it a uniqueAotearoa celebration that embraced allNew Zealanders. More than ten yearson, and Matariki now sees thousandscelebrating Maori New Year from Wairoain the north right through to Wairarapa inthe south.Matariki events across Takitimu waka takeplace over several weeks and are managedby Ngäti Kahungunu Inc in conjunction withlocal Taiwhenua Committees, and sponsoredby the Te Puni Kokiri Takitimu office. Eventsheld in Wairoa, Napier, Hastings, CentralHawkes Bay, Tararua and Wairarapa sawrecord crowds take part this year – cold,wet weather at Memorial Park in Mastertonfailed to deter 2,500 festival goers. Furtherevents took place throughout the month ofcelebrations.From youngstersto rangatahi,right through toour kaumatua –Matariki is a popularannual event for allthe whänau saysTakitimu RegionalDirector, RogerAranui.“Working alongsideNgäti KahungunuIwi Inc on Matarikievents across therohe has been ahugely successfulway to engage withour communities. The events have beenas diverse as our communities and haveincluded photographic exhibitions, wänanga,Ki O Rahi competitions, environmentalworkshops, waiata, visual and performingart, hip hop crews, en masse dancecompetitions – the list is endless.”Key to the success of Matariki has beencommunity involvement; with well knownperformers like RWC 2011 songstress RiaHall taking to the stage, as well as lesserknown local performers.“Bringing entire communities together,Matariki is now an annual event that ourtowns and communities throughout theTakitimu region look forward to every year.Seeing all the inspiring aspects of te reome ngä tikanga Mäori is heartening andsomething we take great pride in being ableto tautoko,” says Roger.Kahungunu promotions manager, Te RangiHuata says Matariki celebrations give thanksfor the food harvest and welcome in anew planting season and they are the bestattended winter gatherings in Hawkes Bayand Wairarapa. Every year almost half thepopulation of Wairoa turns out for a festivalof traditional Mäori sports, kite flying, musicand fireworks.Swagga and Rezpect Dance Crews leddance competitions at each event.36TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | KÖANGA / SPRING 2012