Matariki also known as the Māori New Year, is marked by the rise of the group of stars also called the seven sisters. Traditionally Matariki was used to determine the coming season’s crop. In our kindergarten the celebration of Matariki provides an ideal opportunity to explore the ways that people pass on and sustain aspects of their culture and heritage.

 

In our kindergarten we started the celebration by inviting one of our Māori whaanau to come and perform for our kids. They came and played beautiful guitar and taught our children a couple of Māori songs.  The family also made beautiful poi for our children to use. Since then we have been practicing and dancing to Māori songs.

 

We also visited the Otahuhu Library for the Matariki celebration where we learnt about the seven sisters and made stars using play dough. Thanks to all the parent helpers who joined us.

 

Our Māori whaanau especially Leah has been really supportive and have made yummy kai like the fried bread, and also did the boil up at our kindy, so our children could taste the flavour of their culture. Our Cook Island Māori student Katrina and Leah have contributed a lot to our cooking activities.

 

Tamariki have been busy making stars and painting the night sky on the CD’s and also scratching the seven stars on their CDs. We have displayed the night sky stars in our outdoor environment for the light to reflect and shine through them.

 

Elaine and Ash have also been very busy harvesting our vegetables like the Yacon, spring onions, chives and the carrots and the kaiako have been preparing yummy kai with it. Ash also planted spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, bok-choy and Chinese cabbage with the children.

 

The children also coloured beautiful feathers which were used to attach to the beautiful korowai with the help of Leah and Elaine.

The tamariki also made colourful tikis and some of them wore them around their neck.

 

The children have also been interested in Maori myths and legends stories and have been doing a lot of artwork associated with it.

 

The Matariki celebrations will continue till the end of the month.