Do you know the Māori names of each of the seven stars which make up the Matariki constellation?

Wairoa District Council Māori Relationships Manager, David Tipoki says Matariki has traditionally heralded the Māori New Year and in modern times is seen as the Māori Thanksgiving.

“Matariki will officially begin on June the 6th and the Wairoa District Council will be displaying its new Matariki flags on the bridge and the main street.”

“The flags down the main street will have the Māori names for each of the stars which make up the Matariki cluster and this is our small way to help celebrate Matariki and to also encourage the use of more reo in our community,” says Mr Tipoki.

Economic development officer, Ros Thomas says Matariki events and festivities throughout the district are always a highlight for us here in Wairoa.

“Sara Bird and her team at the Wairoa Community Centre always put on a great series of activities culminating in a community event and an amazing fireworks display and our schools will be celebrating and acknowledging Matariki in their way too.”

“It’s great timing with the WDC Matariki flags going up this week because the Wairoa Māori Film Festival will be in town too and all of this will be happening to herald in the start of Matariki”, says Mrs Thomas.

For more information:

Kitea Tipuna
Communications Strategist
Wairoa District Council
(06) 838 7309

31 October 2018

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