Matariki: What is it all about?

iStock_000002751348SmallMatariki, the Māori New Year, means ‘tiny eyes’ or ‘eyes of god’ and is celebrated in June when a small group of stars called Pleiades rises above the horizon, bringing the old year to a close and starting a new year.

According to myth, when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were separated by their children, the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became so angry that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.

Various Māori tribes celebrated Matariki at different times. Some held festivities when Matariki was first seen in the dawn sky; others celebrated after the full moon rose or at the beginning of the next new moon. The full moon was celebrated in Wellington on June 6 this year, making the start of Matariki.

iStock_000008775653_SmallMatariki is celebrated for the rest of month, and different tribes and Iwi celebrate the New Year in a variety of different ways. Traditionally, Matariki was a time to finish storing food for the winter, weave new clothing and baskets, listen to the stories of our ancestors, and learn about the natural world.

Nowadays, New Zealanders are more likely to get together with family and friends, talk about Māori myths and culture, look at the stars through telescopes, and watch kapa haka performances.

If you want to learn more about Matariki, head on over to our catalogue, or check out the Kiwi Families website for heaps of cool ideas and craft activities.

You can find out about Matariki events in Wellington at the Matariki Wellington website.

 

Top 10 Non-Fiction for July

Lego dominates kid’s favourite  non-fiction books this month!

1.   Star Wars by David West Reynolds

2.   Ripley’s believe it or not! by Rosie Alexander

3.   Moshi Monsters by Steve Cleverley

4.   The LEGO movie  by Hannah Dolan

5.   Cool creations in 35 Pieces by Sean Kenney

6.   Moshipedia from Puffin

7.   Lego Star Wars by Simon Beecroft

8.   Guinness world records 2014 by Craig Glenday

9.   Pokemon ultimate handbook by Cris Silvestri

10. Matariki by Melanie Drewery

 


Matariki books

This week is Matariki -also known as Maori New Year. Want to find out more? Check out these marvelous Matariki books:

Daniel’s Matariki feast by Rebecca Beyer and Linley Wellington.

Daniel is a new boy at a school. His teacher Stacey introduces him to the other boys and they go and pick pumpkins from the school garden. Back inside the Teacher talks to the class about Matariki and the feast they are going to have if the pumpkins are ready.

The class talk to Daniel about Matariki and he goes home and talks about it with his family. His mother knew about Matariki as her Granny used to watch the sky for it. What happens next is really lovely.

 

 

Child of Aotearoa by Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Bruce Potter.

This is a very lovely story about the different Peoples coming to Aotearoa. It starts with the first Maori arriving and then goes on to other races arriving here.
People travelling through and settling here in Aotearoa. The sons and daughters of this land grow up and have children of their own and they grow up all Children of Aorearoa.

“The children grow and pass the line down to you. A line woven with many threads from other lands. Passed down through me to you — child of Aotearoa.”
This book has lovely pictures.

 

Matariki by Melanie Drewery

This is a story about a family who have a surprise visit from their Grandma. There is going to be a surprise happening for them and they have to wait and see. This is really exciting event happening the next day Matariki and the whole family are getting together for it. Matariki andthe special events are explained in this story.

Beautiful pictures and the book is available in both English and Te Reo.

 

The Treasure by Melanie Drewery illustrated by Bruce Potter.

This is the story of a mother telling her child about a beautiful teasure that she has. He has to try and guess it. Can you?

Beautiful pictures and a lovely story. We have it available in both English and Te Reo as Te Taonga.

Celebrate Matariki at Kilbirnie library!

Come along to these upcoming events at Kilbirnie library…

This Thursday 26th June at 3.30pm, the wonderful Kilbirnie School Kapa Haka Group is coming in to perform waiata for Matariki.

On Tuesday 1st July at 10.30am, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna will be presenting a Matariki play.

Come along and celebrate Matariki with us! And don’t forget you can listen to Te Huihui o Matariki read online (in English and Te Reo) on our Downloads page.

 

Matariki, Myths and Space Storytimes at Cummings Park Library

Matariki

Whakanuia Matariki, Whakanuia te Tau Hou Māori – Celebrate Matariki – Celebrate the Māori New Year!

Matariki starts this year on 28 June, but we are kicking off early with a special preschool storytime series all about Matariki, myths and outer space.

The series will run for four weeks at Cummings Park Library, Ngaio and starts on Wednesday the 11th of June at 10.30am.

Preschoolers are encouraged to bring along something creative they’ve made to do with Matariki, myths and outer space. It could be a star, a rocket ship, a woven kete, a taniwha, a Matariki kite or anything related to Ao Māori (Māori world) made with or without the help of parents and caregivers. All children who bring along art will receive a prize!

We would love to create a starry night sky out of the preschoolers’ art in the children’s area.

Matariki Storytime at Karori Library

MatarikiWhakanuia Matariki, Whakanuia te Tau Hou Māori.

Ka timata a Matariki a tēnei tau a te Rātu 28 o Pipiri, heoi ka whakatō mātou i te kakano a te 10.30 i te ata, kei te wharepukapuka o Karori.

Nau mai haere mai ki a koutou katoa. Ka pāhekohekotia mātou mō ngā pakiwaitara, mō ngā waiata, ki te whakanui tēnei wā whakahirahira.

Celebrate Matariki – Celebrate the Māori New Year

Matariki starts this year on 28 June, but we are kicking off early with a special storytime on Tuesday 10 June at 10.30 at Karori Library

Come along to share stories and songs related to Matariki, and to learn about this very special festival.

Ideal for older preschoolers, but everyone is welcome.

 

Top 10 Non-Fiction for July

1. Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft

2. The LEGO book by Daniel Lipkowitz

3. Amazing giant dinosaurs by Marie Greenwood

4. My tourist guide to the solar system and beyond by Louis Dartnell

5. The horrible history of the world by Terry Deary

6. Matariki by Melanie Dewery

7. The Usborne book of origami and other paper projects by Eileen O’Brien

8. Ripley’s believe it or not by Rosie Alexander

9. Pokemon ultimate handbook by Cris Silvestri

10. The great prehistoric search by Jane Bingham

Matariki at Tawa Library

Tawa Library had fun with pois, porotiti (Maori musical instrument) and stick games at our July holiday programme.

First up librarian Brigid read us The fish of Maui along with some other great Maori legends. Then we all had a go at fishing up some Maori place names which we had to place on a map of New Zealand. It was fun trying to work out where they all went.

We then had heaps of fun learning how to play the stick game. We learnt lots of different moves and we had sticks flying everywhere.  Even the parents joined in for that.

Check out our pictures.