This is an ancient Ngāi Tahu karakia used at dawn. It can also be used to open a meeting, at the start of a project or in this, case to welcome our new

year.

Ka haea te ataKa hapara te ata

Ka koroki te manuKa wairori te ngutu

Ko te ata nuiKa hora e na

Ka tangi te umereTe awatea

Before the dawnThe first rays of light

The birds awakeThey open their beaks

Dawn breaksLight scattered (invades)

everywhere(Bird) calls and singing

(fills the air)The dawn (arrives)

Matariki 2018

The Matariki star cluster has a long history with human civilisation, including being used for navigation. It's known by names such as Pleiades, Subaru, the Seven Sisters and Tianquiztli.

The stars are also known by different cultures including the Aztecs, Maya, Persians, Chinese, Indians, Australia's Aborigines, Cherokee of North America and Norse Vikings.

It was mentioned as far back as the Bible, in Chinese literature from around 2350BC and in Homer's epic poems The Odyssey and The Iliad.

In New Zealand, Matariki is a celebration of people, culture, language and history.

Before the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, Matariki used to mark the end of the harvest season where storage houses were filled with food and the land at its least productive.

It was also a sign for navigators that the weather would be safe for long voyages.

In pre-European times, the celebration was popular among Māori, but became gradually less of an event. However, in the early 2000s, the Māori Language Commission, the Ministry of Education and Te Papa started working to bring it back to prominence.

How is Matariki celebrated?Traditionally Matariki was celebrated by gathering with whanau (family) and reflecting on the past. The festival’s connection to the stars provided an opportunity for families to remember their whakapapa (genealogy) and those ancestors who had passed away to the heavens. Offerings were made to land-based gods who would help provide good crops, and new trees were planted to signal new beginnings.

Many of these traditional celebrations are still practiced today, however there are many others ways that Matariki is celebrated also. Most celebrations focus around music, song, dance, food and family, and celebrations can last up to 3 days.

How do communities recognise Matariki?Matariki is a good opportunity for Maori to share their stories and culture with the wider community, and many events and activities are planned throughout the country to share and celebrate Matariki. Some common events and activities include:

• Concerts and cultural performances • Art exhibitions • Art and Craft Workshops • The sharing of myths and legends • Astronomy Workshops • Hangi and Feasts • Dawn Ceremonies • Family Days • Tree Planting in Conservation Areas • Whakapapa (Genealogy) Workshops • Cooking Demonstrations

Matariki at Waimairi for 2018 - the step-by-step guide to our event.

Tuesday 3 JulyFood preparation in the hall from 6pm. Many hands make light work. Ringawera (helping hands) are needed to wash, and cut vegetables and prepare foil wraps ready for cooking in the hangi the following day. Just turn up with a knife to join the fun.

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Wednesday 4 JulyHangi fire lit 6:30am. Our fire needs a three-hour long burn, so it is an early start for the pit crew.

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The final food prep in hall underway 6:30am (drop in whenever you can). Ngā Ringawera will be packaging up hundreds of servings of meat and vegetables into the hangi baskets. All have to be finished by 8:15am. Yes, we will be making vegetarian packs too. Lend a hand, email carol.coleman@waimairi.school.nz with offers of help or questions.

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Coffee shop will be open from 7am________________________________________________

Coming together. Parents, grandparents, whānau, children & special guests assemble together at the far goalpost on back field at 7:15am. Enter school from the Westholme Street (next to the scout hall). A staff member will be there to guide, support and assemble you as group to be called in.

A call of "Haere Mai" (welcome) will greet you from across the field. Start to move towards the fire as a group. You will have a caller responding from your group.

Note, you are not on a Marae, and this is not a formal powhiri, so these calls and replies are simple welcomes and responses, they are not karanga.

As your group (Manuhiri) visitors arrive at the fire you will be greeted by (Tangata Whenua) your hosts. Today this is our staff and our kapa haka group. The sunrise will be underway at this time.

Mike -opening speaker Ka tangi te kakaKa tangi te titi

Ka tangi hoki ahauTihei Mauriora

He mihi tuatahi ki te AtuaKi runga rawa katoa

Te papa ki waho raTe tinana o Papatuanuku

Tena koetakoto takoto

Ki nga mateO tenei roopu, o tenei kura

Haere, haere atu raMoe mai, oki mai

Me mihia, me tangihia

Huri noa, ki te hunga oraTena ra tatou katoa

Remarks in English

Nga mihinui ki a koutouKia ora huihui mai tatou

I roto i te kura nei

No rei ra tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ra tatou katoa.

The kaka bird callsThe titi bird calls

And I call (to you) alsoThe breath/call of life

Acknowledgment first to the creator

To the ground (earth) hereThe body of Papatuanuku

I greet youLie beneath us always

To the dead & departed of this group and school. Go be gone

Sleep, rest in peaceWe miss you and cry for you

Returning to the livingGreetings to you all

Many warm greetings to allWelcome to this gathering

At this school

Karakia

Staff and kapa haka group - Waiata

Ka haea te ataKa hapara te ata

Ka koroki te manuKa wairori te ngutu

Ko te ata nuiKa hora e na

Ka tangi te umereTe awatea

Before the dawnThe first rays of light

The birds awakeThey open their beaks

Dawn breaksLight scattered (invades)

everywhere(Bird) calls and singing (fills the

air)The dawn (arrives)

Tēnā koutou, e hoa mā

Kua tae mai nei i tēnei rā

Nō reira rā, e hoa mā

Kia ora rā, koutou katoa

 Kua rongo hoki ahau

Kua rongo hoki ahau

Kua rongo hoki ahau

Kei te haere mai koutou

 Nō reira rā, e hoa mā

Kia ora rā, koutou katoa

Greetings, oh friends

Arrived here this day

Therefore, oh friends,

Good health, to you all

I had heard of course

I had heard of course

I had heard of course

That you were all coming

Therefore, oh friends,

Good health, to you all

Ian Taylor.Reply and mihi.

Everyone - Waiata x 2 Waitaha e e karanga e te iwi e

Kua eke mai nei Kua eke mai nei ki runga te marae e

Mauria mai ra Mauria mai ra e nga mate o te motu e 

Me nga tini roimata Me nga tini roimata e maringi whanui e

Titiro e nga iwi Titiro e nga iwi e nga mahi o te motu E hora atu nei e. Ru ana te whenua 

Ru ana te whenua, whatiwhati te moana Aue te aroha

Au-e te aroha te mamae i ahau e. 

Ru ana te whenua whatiwhati. Hei

Matariki e tiaho mai ra eE tiaho mai ra i te po

Tohu ana i te tau hou Maori eMatariki e tiaho e

Matariki e kanapa mai ra eE kanapa mai ra i te po

Tohu ana i te tau hou Maori eMatariki e kanapa e

E Mata e

Our tribe is calling to the peoplewho have just set foot on this marae

Bring with you the memories of all our dead

and so many tears spilling forth nation-wide.

Look at our people working across the land

spread out far and wide

Shaking is the ground, quivering is the sea.

Oh, the love and the pain within me.

The ground shakes and quivers

Shine o’ MatarikiShine on in the morning night sky

Symbolic of a new timeShine o’ Matariki

Glisten o’ MatarikiGlisten on in the morning night sky

Symbolic of a new timeGlisten o’ Matariki

Hongi & hareru At the start of this morning's ceremony we started a long way apart. We have moved closer together to speak and sing. Now we finish and become one group with hongi. Please move along the line to hongi with our staff and kapa haka group.

For many people a hongi is outside of their comfort zone  – the word hongi literally means ‘sharing of breath’ so it is an intimate gesture and can be a bit daunting if you have never given one before.  We understand this, so if your are not totally comfortable with hongi a

'hareru' (handshake) is just fine.

How to hongi

1. Shake hands.

2. Step forward as you do this.

3. Press noses (and forehead) for about 1 second.

Now let's eat together. It the important conclusion to our ceremony.

We are heading off in our River groups to four breakfast stations. Staff will guide you to the right place.

Before you eat, the children and teachers will lead Karakia Kai. Then you can dig in and enjoy.

8:15am After-breakfast speaker, Ian Taylor. In the hall. ________________________________________________

Around 9am. Activity rotations.Each River will have Matariki/Te Ao Māori activities that they run within their River. Each activity will run for around 40min. Parents, visitors, pre-schoolers welcome to stay and participate.

(Hangi will be put down at 9:30am - come over to watch).

9.10am to 9.50am Activity 1

9.50am to 10.30am Activity 2

11am to 11.40am Activity 3

11.40am to 12.20pm Activity 4

12.20pm to 12.30pm Own Classes

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12:30pm - Celebrate Waimairi's cultural diversity - serving of hangi and international food festival.

Come back to the field to enjoy food together. As well as the taste of hangi we have food to sample from: Japan, Korea, China, Cambodia, and Philippines.

Many Waimairi families have kindly stepped up to help us experience cultural diversity today. We want to acknowledge the time and effort that has gone into the preparation of this international food selection.

Today is about sharing cultures and raising the visibility of all cultural groups and families within our school. By coming along to participate today you are all building our school's inclusiveness.

We hope you and your children enjoy learning about other cultures through food. It is all about experiencing new flavours and aromas.

After kai, do take a look at this term’s science work in classrooms. If their parents are at school, children can head home with them at this time.

Important points

-Bring a (named) plastic bowl and spoon in a plastic bag for breakfast (for you and your children).

-Bring a torch as the first part of the day will still be dark.

-Install the Star Walk 2 app on your phone. It offers a wonderful sky viewing experience and will help you find and identify stars during the ceremony.

-Wrap up warm. Jackets, hats & gloves.

-Send in some morning tea and lunch as well. The hangi and international foods are a taster and maybe not enough for really hungry kids.

-Although you are welcome to take your own children home after eating lunch, school is open for the afternoon, you are not required to take your children with you.

Thanks to Heli Maintenance and Sanitarium for providing our breakfast.

Thanks to the Waimairi PTA for sponsoring the hangi & international foods.

...and 'Grown' https://www.facebook.com/pg/GrownFamily for vegetable donations

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Matariki ahunga nui: Matariki has many admirers.