MATARIKI

Friday 14th June

Ngā Whetū o Matariki

 Ka kitea a Matariki i te atapo, ina tiro koe ki te raki-ma-marangai i te mutunga o te marama o Haratua. Ka tino kitea i roto i nga wiki e whai ake ana i muri, ka piki haere, nawai a, ka eke ki runga rawa, ka ahu whaka-te-tonga tona pikinga ake ia.    

Matariki becomes visible in the pre-dawn sky looking north-east towards the end of May. It becomes more clearly visible in the following weeks, rising further and further towards the south once the shortest day is past. 

As part of a School-wide kaupapa we having been looking at Matariki. 

Researching and finding out What is Matariki?

We know that Matariki is Māori Tau Hou (Māori New Year). 

We have found out that some iwi say they are the Seven sisters of Matariki. Their names are Ururangi who is the pōtiki (baby), Waitī, Waitā, Tupuārangi, Tupuānuku, Waipuna and Matariki.

We know that some other cultures' also use the stars as icons for instance the Japanese use the starts on their Sabaru vehicles. There are other cultures that use the stars in there own way. New Zealand Māori celebrate by bringing people together. It's a new beginnings. As a kura we have brought all our tamariki together to work together by having a whole school Matariki Rotation day on Friday 14th. Through the various rotation there was some outstanding Tūākana Taina (senior junior) mahi going on through out the day. 

During these rotations we had Māori past-time games being taught. Making Manu Aute by using materials of today, but still learning the skills of how you would make one if you used natural materials. Art making stars using technology. Making harakeke putiputi, Making awhiowhio (spirals) with paper. Weaving with paper. Researching on the computer about Matariki.

Next Thursday 20th we will have a day of presenting and have some entertainment and to end off our kaupapa with our whānau whānui celebrate by having a hāngi. All these skills are intergrated in all  curriculm areas, and at the same time the tamariki are not only learning but they are having fun while they have participated.

Photos' will be added later