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Communities are coming up with new ways to mark Matariki for the second national public holiday this Friday.
Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Willow-Jean Prime says just over half the population did something specific to celebrate Matariki last year, and on current indications the number should be higher this year.
She’ll attend a traditional hautapu ceremony at Mt Ngongotahā in Rotorua on Friday, which will be broadcast nationwide through Whakaata Māori, TVNZ and online on the Matariki.com website.
The pre-dawn ceremony hosted by Ngati Whakaue will involve remembrance of those who have passed, followed by the cooking of kai connected to stars in the Matariki cluster, with the steam released to feed the stars.
A list of some of the many other Matariki events, celebrations and ceremonies is available on the Matariki.com website and is being regularly updated: www.matariki.com/events
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