Kia ora koutou tamariki & whānau! We hope you all had a stellar school holiday and enjoyed reading wonderful Matariki pukapuka and attending some of our Whakanuia a Matariki events!
Let’s take a moment to look back on the beautiful art you created, our cosy stories and performances, and some of the important reflections and aspirations that we shared with each other.
Our Purapura Whetū collaborative constellations shine bright at Johnsonville Library!
During Kōhatu Matariki, tamariki shared their reflections and aspirations through embelishing rocks from Te Taiao
Matariki by Firelight, stories and crafts at Brooklyn Library!
Kōhatu Matariki: Whakapaipaitia te Taiao, in progress at Karori Library!
String Bean Puppets: The Penguin and the Sea Monster was a whānau favourite around the city!
Fly to the Matariki Stars at Island Bay Community Centre taught kids about Puanga and the Matariki stars!
Matariki by Firelight at Tawa Library
Anna Bailey’s String Bean Puppets at Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) Library! Can you spot the kororā?
Wellington City Libraries and Community Centres would like to give a massive thanks to Anna Bailey for running the phenomenal String Bean Puppets: The Penguin and the Sea Monster sessions, which introduced tamariki to brave kororā and themes of kaitiakitanga. The Children and Youth Services team would like to give a special thanks to our Māori Customer Specialist, Ann Reweti and the wonderful members of our team who provided great event ideas and practical advice in making sure that events were aligned with tikanga.
Thanks to everyone who came along and helped make our Whakanuia a Matariki programme so special! We hope to see you all again next holidays, or hopefully before then at your local library branch! To find out about our regular programmes, special events, and holiday happenings, make sure to keep an eye-out on the kids’ blog, and our Facebook page, or our events calendar.
Continue learning about Matariki and Puanga with some wonderful titles available at the library:
Ngā whetū Matariki whānakotia / Kamo, Miriama
“Sam and Te Rerehua search for the stars that have mysteriously gone missing.” (Catalogue)
Also available in Te Reo Pākehā as The Stolen Stars of Matariki.
Ko Flit, te Tīrairaka me te mahere Matariki / Quin, Kat
“Join Flit and his friends, Keri the kiwi and wise old Ruru, as they explore the night skies to work out how to capture a sparkling star. When the friends get lost, they follow the twinkling clues in the sky to find their way back home.” (Catalogue)
Also available in Te Reo Pākehā as Flit the Fantail and the Matariki Map.
Ngā manu tukutuku e whitu o Matariki / McClintock, Calico
“It is a special time of year. A time when the whispering wind blows warm from the east, and a crescent moon rises in the wintry night sky. Seven little sisters make kites with eyes of seashells to celebrate the New Year. But that playfulwind whips those kites away… Matariki is here!” (Catalogue)
Also available in Te Reo Pākehā as The Seven Kites of Matariki.
Te Huihui o Matariki / Rolleston-Cummins, Toni
“When Mitai’s seven handsome brothers are bewitched by seven beautiful women, Mitai seeks advice and learns that the women are patupaiarehe and must be cast far away. They are given to Urutengangana, the god of the stars, who places them in the far away heavens. Yet once a year, at winter solstice, he allows them to shine in the Eastern sky.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Also available in Te Reo Pākehā as The Seven Stars of Matariki.
Tā Daniel hākari Matariki / Beyer, Rebecca
“Starting something new is always difficult. How will Daniel fit in? Luckily for him Matariki is a time of sharing and new beginnings.” (Catalogue)
Also available in Te Reo Pākehā as Daniel’s Matariki Feast
Ko te kī taurangi a Puanga: he ururoa ki te Whānau Matariki / Wadsworth, Kirsty
This enthralling tale tells the story of Puanga, cousin to the Matariki sisters, and how it was that she came to join them in the sky above Aotearoa. At its heart it’s a story of whānau, friendship, tradition and sacrifice. The text is evocative and powerfully paced; the illustrations atmospheric and perfectly matched.
Also available in Te Reo Pākehā as “The Promise of Puanga.”