Words by Carolyn Wadey-Barron
The first known Matariki celebration happened in Kūaotunu on July 9, 2026, on the day of the Matariki public holiday. While pre-colonial celebrations may have happened in the area long ago, this 21st century celebration was an uplifting blend of culture, art and community coming together in unity to celebrate the things we hold dear.
With help from funding from Creative Coromandel, and support from the team at CoroMind, Roimata Taimana and Carolyn Wadey-Barron put together an art exhibition, wānanga and a traditional hautapu ceremony for the whole community to enjoy.
The dawn hautapu ceremony kicked off the celebrations, with up to 300 people gathering in the dark and cold at 6am on the Black Jack Reserve. Ngati Hei kaumatua Joe Davis had loaned pou from Wharekaho which stood in a half circle and created an atmosphere where it felt as though spectators could (metaphorically) lean on these pillars and on each other, as a group. Karakia for Matariki were spoken by local artists, members of Ngati Hei and Ngati Huarere and children from Te Rerenga. Ian Preece spoke to the crowd about Matariki from a global astronomy viewpoint, and the Kapa Haka group from Te Rerenga performed waiata.
It was a powerful moment as the names of loved ones who have passed were spoken and a collective grief and remembrance hung in the air as their names were heard. As the ceremony concluded, kaka awoke and swooped down on the crowd, calling as if to give their blessing for the year ahead.
Following an opening karakia, the exhibition Te Toi o Matariki opened at 9am the same day in the Kūaotunu Hall, and art lovers munched on croissants and drank Coffee Lala while marveling at the talent on display. Nine local artists were invited to create a piece of art that represented each of the Matariki stars and the results were spectacular. There were a number of whakairo (wood carving) pieces as well as uku (clay), needlework, mosaic, sculpture and paint on canvas. Each piece of work was placed in relation to the whetu (stars) in the Matariki constellation, so visitors could experience walking through the constellation itself.
An uku wānanga, led by Fiona Gates, and a harakeke wānanga, led by Helena James were a big hit with the kids. The harakeke group created whetu which are now hanging on pōhutakawa in the reserve and they will dry out over the summer months to become decoration for the next year’s Matariki celebrations.
While the art exhibition stayed open until Sunday, the Matariki day celebrations finished with a bonfire at the Kūaotunu boat ramp which was well attended by the young, old and everyone in between.
