Category: General MATARIKI CELEBRATIONS

5pm Friday 21st July

Matariki festivities at the Old School will combine Art, Kapa Haka, Kai, Mau Rakau and Waiata to reflect on the past, celebrate the present and plan for the future.

The celebrations will include a gallery installation featuring seven art works to represent the history and teachings of seven of the Whetū of the Matariki constellation with all art pieces available for sale as a silent auction.

The evening celebrations have been organised by Dallas Mihinui (Tainui) and will be hosted by MC Gavin Dempsey beginning with a mihi whakatau at 5pm.

Raglan Kindergarten will be here with a kai fundraiser selling mussel fritters, lamb on a spit, pot hangi vegetables, sausages in bread and sweet treats. There will be a Raglan Area School kapa haka performance and face painting with Genevieve Amy.

Also performing will be local Raglan musician, singer and songwriter Wiremu McCarthy blending elements of soul, reggae, funk and folk to bring his own original sound and style through his guitar and vocals.

Jeremy Murray, Mau Rakau specialist and youth consultant who has been passionate about traditional Māori forms of healing and medicine along with traditional forms of exercise and Māori weaponry for the better part of 15 years, will also be providing interactive demonstrations for everyone to participate.

The Clay Shed will also be open providing an opportunity for everyone to create a lasting souvenir of this special time by painting bowls for sharing of kai. Thanks to the funding support from Raglan Naturally, the bowl workshop is available for $20 per person. Awesome hands-on fun, no artistic skill required for this workshop to be enjoyable and successful – suitable for everyone age 8+.

This is an evening of celebrating Matariki and Te Tau Hou Māori (Māori New Year). Come along and participate in some or all of the celebrations, there is something for everyone of all ages.

Koha entry and licensed Old School Café Bar will be open selling beverages.

Schedule of the evening celebrations
5pm mihi | welcome
5.30pm – 8.30pm face painting, exhibition, kai fundraiser
6pm – 6.30pm Kapa haka
6.30pm – 9pm Waiata & Mau Raku demonstration