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Kororipo Kohanga Reo opened the musical part of the Festival on Saturday
Kerikeri celebrated Matariki 2005 during Queen's Birthday weekend with numerous highlights & fabulous weather, & several galleries' exhibits continued their focus on Matariki. The Stone Store Basin provided the ideal location for the festivities with a powhiri at the Kororipo Pa site, special features at the Mission House and Stone Store, waka, steamboat and vintage car rides as well as music, performances, foods and craft stalls in the Reserve. Hone Mihaka opened & closed the day's festivities with due reference to all cultures' participation at the Maori New Year celebrations for "new beginnings." The Basin's attractively re-born restaurant The Landing offered food & drinks during all days as well as a lively Cabaret with buffet-style dinner on Saturday & more live music on Sunday night. Sunday's extended Farmers' Market with Puha Bandido's live music was the busiest since its inception last year. The number of stalls & visitors reached new records, and the sunny weather helped make an enjoyable atmosphere. Highlight of Kerikeri's Matariki weekend was the fully booked 4-course Indigenous Dinner arranged by Pure Tastes in a large marquee. Surpassing even the highest expectations, the combination of indigenous entertainment, food and decoration with perfect organization has put Kerikeri clearly on New Zealand's culinary map. Based on the successful weekend, plans for next year's Matariki as well as other special events such as the Steam & Heritage Day in November are already in discussion. Kerikeri has the required people with talent & co-operative spirit to organize events which enhance the town's catchcry - "Uniquely Kerikeri." Rolf Mueller-Glodde 407 3598
Matariki is the Maori New Year and traditionally a time to celebrate new beginnings, the Maori culture and heritage and the unique place that is Northland. Music, crafts, and food take centre stage in Kerikeri and the Bay of Islands over the three days of the holiday weekend.
Art in Kerikeri
Celebrating Maori art will form a significant part of the Matariki celebrations in Kerikeri throughout the month of June. The Art Bungalow will feature contemporary NZ and Maori art in its exhibition Spirit of Aotearoa from 27 May to 25 June. Works from many of NZ's well-known artists will be on display including Wellington based weaver Erenora Puketapu Hetet and Stacy ONeil who has a number of installations in public buildings both in NZ and worldwide. Cameron Webster, whose work features in NZ High Commissions and Embassies internationally, will have sculptures in the exhibit. One of the exhibit organizers, Pat Durham says Matariki celebrations offer an ideal opportunity to showcase Maori art and contemporary NZ art. There is a strong Maori connection in much of the contemporary NZ art, he says. The exhibition is a lot about entertainment and promoting Northland and we hope it attracts people who will then return to Northland because they had a good time.
Three other exhibits also feature in Kerikeri; Outside the Square runs from 29 May to 30 June at the Art Upstairs Gallery in Mill Lane and A walk in the Stars is on for two days only, June 4 and 5 at the Kerikeri Gallery of Contemporary Art at Waipapa Rd, offering affordable art by emerging Northland artists. Kaan Zamaan on Kerikeri Rd join the theme with all new first time exhibiting artists, opening Thursday June 2nd at 7pm. See www.kaanzamaan.co.nz
Participating Accommodation Providers
Boutique Lodges
Ora Ora Resort 09 407 3598 Heron Hill Lodge 09 4017 047
Sommerfields Lodge 09 407 9889 Takou River Lodge 09 407 8065
Kerikeri Rd (SH10 end)
The Summer House 09 407 4294 Gannaway House 09 407 1432
Pukanui B&B 09 4077 003 Palm Grove Motel 09 407 8484
Magnolia House on SH10 09 4017 944
Kerikeri Rd (Town centre)
Aranga Park 09 407 9326 Cottle Court Motel 09 407 8867
Kerikeri Homestead Motel 09 4077 063 Accommodation Woodlands 09 407 3947
Kerikeri Rd (near the Basin)
Colonial House Motel 09 407 9106
Participating Gallery (several others also open through the weekend)
Kaan Zamaan on Kerikeri Rd ...all new first time exhibiting artists
Opening Thursday 2nd June, 7pm
Stone Store, Kemp House special Saturday only admission price. Also traditional games for children in the Reserve. Contact Liz kkmission@historic.org.nz 09 407 9236
MATARIKI: In late May, the constellation of stars known as Matariki rises approximately half an hour before the sun. Approaching the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, Matariki marks the time when the sun, drifting north, turns around when it reaches Matariki and starts moving south again. In Maori mythology Matariki and her six daughters assisted Ra (the sun) whose winter journey from the North left him weakened.
Traditionally, a look-out was posted to watch for the rise of Matariki.
The next new moon following the rise of Matariki signals the start of Matariki celebrations and also marks Whetu o te tau, the Aotearoa-Pacific New Year. Matariki is celebrated widely in the Pacific - where it is also known as Matali'i, Mataliki, Makali'i, Mata-ali'I, and Makahiki. Several other cultures around the world recognise the signficance of Matariki. In Greece, for example, the constellation is known as Pleiades, and a number of temples
face towards the constellation. Also see Paihia Matariki Arts Festival 2005 more info at www.taitokerau.co.nz
Kuia Nancy Dargaville demonstrates cloakmaking outside Kemp House
Matariki celebrated at Kororipo 2004
The inaugural Kororipo/Kerikeri Basin Matariki Festival drew a strong Ngapuhi presence plus participation from local residents and visitors.
The day started with a powhiri and closed with comments by Taiamai Tours director Hone Mihaka.
He said it was the first time in 150 years that Ngapuhi was finally back and the day was a celebration of new beginnings, ongoing relationships and acknowledgement of the significance of both the old and the new.
The international spirit of the festival was illustrated by karakia on the pa site, pipe music sounding from the other side of the river plus church bells echoing through the basin.
Hone Mihaka said, "I am very happy indeed with the way it has turned out given that Matariki has probably not been celebrated in the Kororipo for more than a hundred years. I do hope however that Matariki is not used just as another tourism gimmick to attract tourist dollars to something that is traditionally a Maori celebration of the passing on of the old and the addressing of the new."
To sum it up, he said, "Na tou rourou, na toku rourou, ka ora tatou." (Take a little from your basket and a little from our basket, put it into one, and together we can all share and enjoy the benefits.) The Bay Chronicle July 2004
"Matariki was a great success, partially due to the fantastic weather, but also the high number of participants and happy contributors and performers as well as DoC, Historic Places Trust and Rewa's Village." Rolf Mueller-Glodde, Kerikeri District Business Assn
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