Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea are hosting their annual Mānawatia a Matariki event at Kawa Marae on Friday 28 June.
What’s different this year? The first hautapu ceremony Kawa Marae held for Matariki in 2022 was led by the wahine, last year’s was led by the tamariki.
“This year it’s time for the tāne to have their turn,” says Kawa Marae administrator, Michelle McGregor.
A hautapu ceremony involves cooked kai being pulled out of the earth with its steam being offered to the stars.
Between the ceremony and breakfast guests will have the opportunity to learn waiata in the wharenui.
Although the breakfast is now booked out with catering at full capacity, locals are welcome to arrive any time after 9am to join in with the rest of the day’s festivities.
There will be a viewing of the film “Whina” kicking off at 10am, accompanied by a kōrero with director Paula Whetu Jones about how the movie came about. Whina is the story of Dame Whina Cooper, the beloved Māori matriarch who worked tirelessly to improve the rights of her people.
Michelle explains there is one activity that is weather dependent.
“Now that we’ve got the waka, weather permitting, we’re hoping to get whānau out doing some waka training,” she says.
If the weather is good then locals will have the opportunity to give it a go.
Another feature of the day will be a small market with stalls including jewellery, clothing, artwork, weaving, some rongoā (herbal medicines and consultations), and the marae will be selling merchandise.
Mānawatia a Matariki at Kawa Marae is supported by funding from Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board.
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