Mānawatia a Matariki! Celebrate Matariki.
One of the important things about Matariki is spending time with whānau (family). Matariki Festival provides great opportunities to have fun together with your loved ones thanks to the Māori tradition of kite flying.
For Māori there are three types of kites: manu aute (kites made from the aute plant), manu tukutuku (kites with long tails) and manu taratahi (kites with a single plume). All were used to send messages to the heavens and between hapū (tribes).
As part of celebrating Matariki why not make your own kite at home? There is a step by step guide on how to make your own kite on the Our Auckland website. Make it this week, or on the new public holiday on Friday.
Regardless of whether you have made a kite or not, head to Takaparawhau Bastion Point on Saturday 25 June for Manu Aute Kite Day. Hosted by iwi partner Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, this promises to be a day filled of fun and delight. Watch giant kites in the sky, try flying your own or take part of other activities on the day.
If you can’t get to Takaparawhau on Saturday, why not head to Pukewīwī / Puketāpapa / Mt Roskill and enjoy the kite flying from one of Auckland’s beautiful maunga. Held on Sunday 26 June, this is a sister event to the one hosted out east by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Thank you to the Tūpuna Maunga Authority for allowing the Puketāpapa Manu Aute Kite Day to take place.
For those who would prefer to be inside, head to Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa New Zealand Maritime Museum and take in the wonder of a flock of Manu Rere who have flown down from their nests in the Hokianga. These stunning crafted traditional kites are the handiwork of artist Ruth Woodbury and will be at the Maritime Museum for the duration of the Matariki Festival. For those wanting a more hands on experience, Ruth is running workshops on the weekends of 24-25 June and 16-17 July.
Matariki Festival has plenty more to enjoy with tamariki, whānau or friends. Head to the Matariki Festival website to find your 2022 Matariki journey.
