Matariki festivities taken to street

People from around the region went out of doors yesterday to celebrate Matariki en masse.

Arrowtown’s historical main street, Buckingham St, turned it on for Matariki for the third year in a row, with about 7000 people immersing themselves in Māori cultural displays along the street.

Highlights of the evening included kapa haka performances from Wakatipu High School, Arrowtown Primary School and Arrowtown Preschool.

Te reo Māori speakers in Marshall Park helped people work on their pronunciation, and local practitioners demonstrated weaving techniques in the Athenaeum Hall.

Allied Media’s short film series "Toitu te whenua — te reo place names of our whenua", produced by Luke Chapman and Ani Ngawhika, played throughout the evening.

In Wānaka the weather god Tāwhirimātea himself decided to make an appearance, as strong northwesterlies and rain rolled over the afternoon festivities.

More than 1500 people descended on Dinosaur Park to enjoy entertainment, stalls and food from a large hangi, all organised by the Kahu Youth Trust.

Event MC Paul Tamati said the large turnout was in large part due to the event’s emphasis on Wānaka’s youth, which extended to youth volunteers from Mount Aspiring College and performances from several school kapa haka groups.

"It’s about bringing the community together, but having the children as the ones we are here for and celebrating them because if you have the children there you have their parents ... every other caregiver and every other person that has guardianship to that child."

As the sky darkened and the weather settled once more, people took part in a waiata on the lakefront, warmed by a series of bonfires set up for the occasion.

Mr Tamati said the event’s 14-year history was about ensuring Matariki could be embraced by everyone and the creation of the public holiday had only solidified that fact.

"It’s not about separation; it’s about integration.

"It’s about getting on together, and look at it, we are. It’s just absolutely wonderful. I’m very proud."

Further south in Invercargill, Matariki celebrations shifted indoors to Southland Stadium from their previous home at Queens Park. Murihiku Matariki Whanau festival co-ordinator Sharne Parkinson stood resolute in her decision to move the event to Stadium Southland even though some had doubts.

"We’re expecting the biggest crowds the stadium’s ever seen. So there’d be 15,000 a night easily."

A low-sensory night with dialled-back visual and audio launched the invitation-only event.

"Elderly and people that don’t like loud, big, booming noises; everything is turned down."

Kapa haka performances, story telling and interactive workshops would continue today and tomorrow, where duo Aro would also be hosting workshops.

Matariki celebrations had had "epic" support over the past five years, she said.

The stadium hosted cultural entertainment, and the adjoining velodrome became host to a range of kai trucks, stalls and exhibitions.

Set-up had gone relatively smoothly on Tuesday morning but she expected the pack-out to be an all-nighter as a Sting netball game was scheduled for the next night.

"We need volunteers, so anyone that wants to come volunteer, come on down."

Despite this year’s scheduling hiccup, bookings had been secured for the next three years.