Matariki - Celebrating the Māori New Year - A True Awakening

4:30 am - Alarm goes off...

Do I really want to go...

I could just go next year...

Sleep seems better...

Last minute, okay, this might not come again...

Matariki Festival - A moving experience

Morena (Good Morning), Kia Ora (Hello) were spoken warmly - a welcoming atmosphere at 5 am.

Arriving at Ngati Whatua O Orakei - the home of one of Auckland's iwi (tribe).

In the dark and cold - hundreds of people waited.

A commanding man spoke to us in Māori and English - explaining Matariki.

Matariki is a time for people to gather, to remember those who have passed, to celebrate the present and look to plan for the future

Matariki - The start of the Māori New Year.

Celebrated in the mid-winter months in New Zealand.

Is now a National Holiday.

The first part of Matariki is to let go of the past.

The festival began with 10 men of the iwi (tribe) pouring their hearts out to the stars.

It was very moving.

This was followed by women singing / wailing.

I didn't expect it to be like this.

Part of the letting go process was done by reading out the names of all people within the iwi who had died in the last 12 months.

A list of about 50 people were read out.

The Māori woman next to me was sobbing.

I really had no idea about the cultural significance of this event.

Offering To The Stars

As each man and woman took their turn in pouring their heart out in Māori (no English), I realised how important this was to them. No notes, straight from the heart.

It was really nice to hear their language.

They were looking at the Stars in the Sky while they were chanting. That part was really touching...

Slowly the Sun started to rise and the cluster of stars known as 'Matariki' or 'Pleiades' in Greek mythology disappeared.

'Rangitoto', one of the islands in the harbour came into view.

Beautiful island of 'Rangitoto' - translates to "sky blood"

The acoustic guitars came out and song started.

The ceremony was completed with breakfast at 7am.

I was fortunate enough to try fish offered to the Matariki stars.

We were served homemade soup, warm tea, and kumara.

The people of the iwi were warm and friendly, giving food to others for free.

There were fires to keep warm and we watched the sun rise.

First rising Sun of the Maori New Year

It was an energizing festival.

I highly recommend Matariki Festival if you live in New Zealand !!!