Celebrate Maori New Year at Matariki Festival 09

Joint media release
Auckland City Council
Manukau City Council
North Shore City Council
Waitakere City Council

9 June 2009

Celebrate Maori New Year at Matariki Festival 09

A fantastic line-up of over 60 events and activities will take place across Tamaki Makaurau during Auckland’s regional Matariki Festival from 24 June to 24 July 2009, giving everyone the chance to get involved in the celebrations.

Heralded by the rising of the star constellation known as Matariki, the Maori New Year has always been an important time in the Maori calendar for connecting with and giving thanks to the land, sea and sky.

Traditionally a time for the community to come together to farewell those departed and acknowledge the year gone by, it was also a time to turn to the future, welcoming the new generation to the world and planning for the year ahead. 

Matariki Festival 09 gives Aucklanders an opportunity to participate and experience a living cultural tradition with tangata whenua, celebrating our unique Maori heritage, nature, creativity and expression.

Some of the festival highlights this year include:

Matariki Native Noise 09
A full line up of leading Aotearoa musicians, headed by chart-topper Tiki and supported by a roots-reggae line-up of Katchafire, Three Houses Down and Cornerstone Roots, performing in the historic setting of the Auckland Town Hall.

When: 26 June
Where: Auckland Town Hall, Queen Street, CBD

Sir Plus and the Requirements
Hot on the heels of three sell-out shows at AK09, Tama Waipara presents Sir Plus and The Requirements, in a fresh and exciting approach to the theatre and music of old school cabaret.  The show takes its cue from Sergeant Pepper, with Sir Plus as ‘the long lost Polynesian cousin’ and fuses musical icons such as Prince Tui Teka, Kid Creole and Burt Bacharach with a touch of funk and groove.

When: 15 and 16 July 2009
Where: Telstra Clear Pacific Event Centre

Manu Aute Kite Day
Celebrate Matariki as people have done for hundreds of years – fly a kite! A day out for the family, it’s a great chance to try your hand at the art of traditional Maori kite making and enjoy traditional Maori games and stories. Bring your own kite, make one or watch the stunning giant Manu Aute kites in flight.

When: 11 July 2009, 10am to 4pm
Where: Takaparawha, Orakei Reserve,end of Kupe Street, Orakei

Nga Korero Tataki
A three-part sustainability symposium exploring the concept of sustainability through traditional and contemporary Maori thinking.  Each night considers a number of case studies with experts in their fields looking at how the unique Maori worldview can contribute to the challenges facing local, national and international communities.

When: 14, 15 and 16 July 2009, 7pm
Where: Waitakere City Council Chambers, 6 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson

For the full programme of events and ticketing information visit www.matarikifestival.org.nz

Auckland, Manukau, North Shore and Waitakere city councils have worked collectively to present the Matariki Festival through the Maori arts development kaupapa Toi Whenua. Matariki Festival 09 is proudly supported by New Zealand Post.

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