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3 Ways To Celebrate Matariki 2016

Posted on 20/06/2015 by
The Matariki constellation. Image credit: http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/matariki

The Matariki constellation. Image credit: http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/matariki

The 2016 Matariki Festival, celebrating the M­āori New Year, will begin on June 06 2016. This is an important time in the Māori calendar, as it is an opportunity to “connect with, and give thanks to the land, sea and sky”.

This celebration offers people a chance to come together over traditional food, rituals and etertainment. There are plenty of public events running over the festival period – why not make the most of the opportunity to get involved and learn more about the Māori culture?

Here are three ways you can join in on the festivities this year.

Get creative in the kitchen

One of the most important elements of the Matariki celebration is enjoying delicious food with close friends and family.

Celebrity chef Peter Gordon has shared some cooking tips for traditional Matariki cuisine, such as Rewena bread and mayonnaise with fresh kawakawa leaves.

Matariki at Auckland Libraries

 

The Auckland Libraries website is a great resource for more information about Matariki. Check out this page for more information about the legend, and some further reading. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your local library – they might put on some great Matariki events, such as workshops or storytelling sessions.

Look to the sky

No matter where you are in the world, you can participate in Matariki by looking for the star constellation its named after. Matariki is the Māori name for a star cluster in Taurus, called ‘the Pleiades’.

The best time to spot this beautiful constellation is very early in the morning, around 6.30am, on the northeast horizon. Experts recommened first-time viewers to use binoculars!

For a full list of events and more information, please visit the official Matariki website.

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