Kids Sparkle at Manukau's Matariki Week Competitions
Over 400 children, young people and parents from across Manukau came together at the Manukau Libraries Matariki Week Art & Writing Prizegiving.
Held on Friday 25 July at the MIT Marae in Otara, the prizegiving was the culmination of Matariki Week events celebrated
at Manukau libraries from 30 June to 4 July. Library goers throughout the city were treated to a host of guest speakers
and demonstrations.
"Matariki Week is the traditional way of celebrating the knowledge of the Maori world," says Jock Walker, Maori Advisor
- Manukau Libraries. "What we are trying to do is introduce to both children and adults the different elements of
Matariki, and it's place in Maori culture.
"Ultimately the library is a starting point for anyone wanting to find out about Matariki Week, Maori culture or trying
to trace their whakapapa. Celebrating Matariki Week in the libraries introduces people to the various Maori resources
and services available to them at their local library."
The Matariki Week Art & Writing competition aims to encourage young people to think about what Matariki means to them and express it in art, or
in writing. Written entries can be in Maori or English. Categories range from a preschool colouring competition up to a
secondary school art competition.
"The quality of both the written pieces and the artwork was exceptional," says Mr Walker. "We also had a record number
of entries received - 936 entries from children and young people from all parts of Manukau. Over 1000 people attended
the various workshops running during Matariki Week."
Celebrating Matariki Week in libraries is part of Manukau Libraries Maori Services Strategy and also results from the
recommendations of a survey conducted in 2001. The findings stated that Mäori in Manukau City would visit libraries more
often if Mäori speakers were promoted more in the libraries doing sessions on storytelling, whakapapa, graphic art,
carving, weaving and Mäori designs.
ENDS
Matariki Prize winners 2003- Colouring Competition
Colouring In Competition - ages 0-5
Place Name 1st Jessehang Ung - Leabank Primary - 5yrs 2nd Nesta Puhipi-Hibbs - Leabank Primary - 5yrs 3rd
Sofia Reps - Bucklands Beach Primary - 5yrs
Colouring In Competition - ages 6-8
Place Name 1st Missie Puaha - Wiri Central - 8yrs 2nd Wesley Heath - Sunnyhills School - 7yrs 3rd
Johnathan King - Cockle Bay Primary - 6yrs
Colouring In Competition 9-12
Place Name 1st Elaine Ladd - Pakuranga Intermediate - 12 yrs 2nd Wei-Gin Poon - Pakuranga Intermediate -
12 yrs 3rd Hinehapainga Rameka-Katterns- Te Kura O Nga Tapuwae - 9yrs
Matariki Prizewinners 2003 - Writing
Writing Competition - ages 5-8
Place Name 1st Ngarina Wong - Mangere East Primary - 8yrs 2nd Kaylarose Rapana Jean Batten School - 8yrs 3rd
Victoria Griffin - Cockle Bay Primary - 7yrs
Writing Competition - ages 9-12
Place Name 1st Bishop Thompson - Clendon Park Primary - 9yrs? 2nd Kohehohe Pihama - Te Kura Maori o Nga
Tapuwae - 11yrs 3rd Kere Thompson - Clendon Park Primary - 9yrs?
Writing Competition - ages 13-18
1st Courtney Brown - James Cook High - 15yrs 2nd Nicole Brown - Tangaroa College - 16 yrs 3rd Leshonaire
Akarana - Tangaroa College - 15yrs
Matariki Prizewinners 2003 - Art
Art Competition - ages 5-8
1st Loren Abel - Cockle Bay Primary - 6 yrs 2nd Rachel Smith - Cockle Bay Primary - 6 yrs 3rd Pa Maihia - East
Tamaki Primary - 7 yrs Special Award Te Kotoku Whare Matauranga - Te Kohanga Reo
Art Competition - ages 9-12
1st Chaz Reid - Mangere East Primary 10yrs 2nd Toni Ann Tapu Mangere East Primary 10Yrs 3rd Tama Matenga
Jean Batten School 10yrs
Art Competition - ages 13-18
1st Halen Schuster, Brenda Amaru and Chalice Tapa - James Cook High - 13 yrs 2nd Tangara Aperahama - Tangaroa
College - 17yrs 3rd Tess Diaz, Samantha Murray, Phyllis Mark- McClutchie James Cook High - 13 yrs