At Laingholm Kindergarten we celebrated Matariki by planting daffodil bulbs with our tamariki in memory of a loved one who has passed. This is because Matariki teaches us to look back as well as to the future. Each child planted their own daffodil bulb to take home and care for. We  asked our whānau to send us progress photos as their daffodil grew and then displayed these in the kindergarten. We added a whakataukī to each jar about Matariki.

We also created a Matariki space for our tamariki to spend time in. This area had papier-mâché planets that were made alongside our Matariki stars hanging from the roof. It was a comfortable area with cushions and our tamariki loved to lay down and relax in there. Two of our kaiako attended a Matariki workshop at Konini Primary school where they learnt to weave fish using Nīkau Palms, played ecological games and listened to stories about Matariki.