MATARIKI EXCITEMENT

 The school hall was a buzz of excitement for   Waikanae School’s Thursday night’s Matariki celebration.  With around 300 children, many in their pyjamas and dressing gowns, along with their parents or members of their extended whanau attending, the place was packed.  Set up with sofas around the walls and with the floor covered with cushions, it was a warm, welcoming, sight.  The Room 6 pou,  which reached nearly to the roof, welcome guests just inside the entrance way. 

 

 The hall walls and stage had been decorated with children’s art from all the various syndicates, fairy lights and posters

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On the pou were the koru family trees of Room 6 students, many telling of their ancestry and their pepeha identifying them with the Kapiti Coast.  Several of the pepha signified other cultural identities for families that have joined our Waikanae community.

 Meanwhile, outside, lanterns hung gently swaying in trees and also lit the path to the hall, making the scene quite magical.

Snuggling down on the large cushions, surrounded by the flickering of candles, children sipped from cups of steaming Milo while listening to traditional Maori stories.   Some of the kapa haka sang waiata and biscuits were handed out to go with the Milo.   

 Of  special significance was that the first story, “In The Beginning - Ranginui & Papatuanuku”, read by Year 6 student Tiare Parata, and the last story of the evening, “Te Rauparaha – Legend of Aotearoe” read by her father  Damian Parata, were both descendants of Te Rauparaha, a significant and historic figure in Kapiti’s rich history.

Other guest readers were Miss Castle, Mrs Micaela Young, Meretene Davis, and Mrs Lumsden, each with a different story.   Following the reading of the stories, the food from the sausages sizzle was distributed and eagerly consumed.   

As the evening drew to a close, hot air balloons were released to soar into the dark night sky, their lights signifying the seven stars of Matariki. The night concluded with karakia before the tired but happy children headed home to bed.