Hikitia Ngā Whetū o te Tau Hou
Celebrating Matariki ma Puanga
with Hāngī and Whanaungatanga
As the winter skies darkened over the Waitākere Ranges, our team gathered to celebrate Matariki — a time to reflect, reconnect, and prepare for the year ahead. This year, our celebration centered not just on sharing kai, but on deepening our understanding of maramataka and how it is practised across different iwi and regions.
We acknowledge Matua Rereata Makiha who was willing to share his knowledge ā tīnana however the season kept him home. Although he was unable to attend, we were fortunate to watch two documentary-style videos featuring his wisdom. His insights sparked rich kōrero about how maramataka is shaped by place and environment.
For example, in regions like Taranaki, Whanganui, and Hokianga, Puanga is acknowledged instead of Matariki — not because it's more significant, but because it's the star that appears at the right time of year to signal harvest and the start of the new season, whereas Matariki isn’t visible until much later. These regional perspectives reminded us of the importance of aligning our own rhythms and planning with the whenua we’re on and the taiao around us.
At the heart of our celebration was the hāngī. The preparation became a team bonding moment, with one person saying, “I reckon if we were at a marae, we’d rock it in the kitchen.”
Huge thanks to the Hemopo whānau, brother-in-law and sister to Aroha, whose help and expertise is greatly appreciated. The kai was beautiful, but even more powerful was the sense of connection it nurtured.
This was our second team hāngī, with the first held during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori last year. Since then, it’s been encouraging to see the steady progress we’ve made as a team — not just in our confidence with te reo Māori, but in how we collaborate and live out our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and mana whenua. Through fortnightly wānanga in pronunciation, karakia, and waiata, we’ve created space for learning, connection, and growth.
It also gave us a moment to reflect on how much we’ve achieved over the past year — including since Kerry joined the team in late 2023. From building more structure and clarity in our direction, to strengthening the way we work together, this year has been an inspiring and collaborative journey. Matariki was a timely opportunity to acknowledge this progress and set our sights on the future.
Next year’s celebration may take a different form — perhaps a kōrero with experts on another star or theme that aligns with our kaupapa. Aroha is already working toward a clearer strategy that weaves Te Tiriti values into our project planning and delivery — including through our dashboard and the early stages of our mahi.
Mānawatia a Matariki — here’s to carrying the light of the stars into the year ahead, together.
