Laughter, love and festivity abounded when Te Puni Kōkiri Waikato was the major sponsor of ‘Matariki Magic’, at Waikato Museum in Hamilton.

Moana Davey, Waikato Museum Concept Leader says while Matariki once reminded our tīpuna to prepare for the harvest, in modern terms she says ‘that mid-winter marker’ lives beyond the māra and resides in the community.

As Concept Leader, Moana delivers programmes, events and exhibitions for tangata whenua, which ‘expose our community to unique experiences’ and encourage ‘Waikato-Tainui to participate in the museum’.

She says Te Puni Kōkiri Waikato supported one of only a few ‘Māori New Year’ events in Hamilton this year.

“In the absence of any other Matariki events in Kirikiriroa, and were it not for the involvement of Te Puni Kōkiri, Matariki would not have happened at all for Māori and the Waikato community,” Moana said.

‘Matariki Magic’ featured reigning Tainui Waka Kapa Haka Festival champions Te Iti Kahurangi. Moana said Te Iti Kahurangi performed a unique bracket based around themes whakapapa, whenua, and mātauranga.

The Te Puni Kōkiri Māori Business Facilitation Service (MBFS) hooked up some of its Waikato clients to promote their businesses and market their products. MBFS clients Ora Skincare, Taaniko Nordstrom Clothing, and Kay Patena of Harakeke Creations were amongst the business stalls in the museum foyer.

It was a full house at Waikato Museum, with around 300 people in attendance. A gold coin donation on entry raised $600.00 for the Taiohi Toa-Big Brother, Big Sister Mentoring Programme.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hamilton mentor programme provides youth who are at-risk of offending with a structured and supportive one-to-one friendship with an adult role model. It was established in 2003 under Taiohi Toa Trust, in partnership with Hamilton Police Youth Development.

“Matariki Magic showed that Māori are contemporary in their business approach, but still have their feet firmly planted in the values set for us by our tīpuna,” says Te Puni Kōkiri Waikato Regional Director Gail Campbell. “Nowadays, Matariki is a time for us to take stock of relationships, our communities, and values. We can also do some ground work, pull out some weeds, and we can cultivate some fertile ground for a healthy harvest.”