Maori New Year Celebrations

North Shore City will celebrate Maori New Year through art, a hikoi, a women's wellbeing hui, kapa haka performance and a festival day.

The five local events, and others that are part of the region-wide Matariki Festival, aim to commemorate this ancient tradition across the city.

North Shore City Council's community liaison manager and Maori arts group Toi Whenua member, Lisa Tocker, says there are more local events than ever before.

"This is the fourth time we've participated in the regional programme for Matariki, and it's got bigger and better every year," she says.

>From June 26 to July 16 the Matariki - Guiding Lights exhibition is on at NorthArt's main gallery. It includes works by Maori artists with a connection with Te Raki Pae Whenua, or North Shore City.

At 9.30am on Sunday, June 18 the Te Puao O Matariki Marae to Marae Hikoi begins. The 5km or 10km walk from Awataha Marae in Northcote to Te Taua Moana Marae at Devonport Navy Base will take in cultural landmarks along the route.

At Awataha Marae on Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18 is a celebration of arts, culture and traditional Maori heritage including powhiri, hangi, games and kapa haka. Also at the marae on Saturday, July 8 at the marae is the Nga Wahine Purotu, Women's Wellbeing Hui.

At Takapuna's Bruce Mason Centre on Sunday, July 23, is He Wheturangitia - The Shining Stars of the Night Sky. Young people will get together to celebrate Matariki with song and dance through kapa haka.

"I hope local people and visitors to our city will make the most of the opportunity to take part in a cultural festival that is unique to Aotearoa, New Zealand," says Mrs Tocker.

The Matariki Festival runs from June 25 to July 25. For a full programme of events and to find out more, please visit > www.matariki.org.nz.

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