Mānawatia a Matariki me Puanga - Winter School Holidays Wrap-Up 2025!

By WCL librarians

We had a lovely time celebrating Matariki me Puanga over the winter school holidays. Let's take a moment to look back at all the brilliant creations and special experiences from those who joined us.

Kids Kids featured
Star illustrations representing each of the stars of the Matariki cluster superimposed over a photo of the stars in the night sky

Kia ora koutou tamariki & whānau! We hope you all had a remarkable and restful school holiday, that you enjoyed reading wonderful Matariki pukapuka, and attending some of our Mānawatia a Matariki me Puanga events!

Our Matariki me Puanga Reading Challenge is still on-going, so you can head over to Beanstack to sign up and continue to keep Matariki me Puanga in your thoughts until the end of August.

Thanks to everyone who came along and helped make our Mānawatia a Matariki me Puanga programme so special! To find out about our regular programmes, special events, and holiday happenings, you can sign up for our Kids and Families newsletter, or make sure to keep an eye-out on our kids’ stories, our Facebook page, or our events calendar.

We would also like to extend particular thanks to the fabulus Suzy Cato, the illustrious Erin Willson, and the wonderful rangatahi of Wellington Youth Improv for the fantastic events they ran in our spaces.

Now let's look at some of the highlights from the events run in our libraries and community centres over the holidays!

Events with our special guests

Photo taken from the back of the audience looking over the backs of attendees towards Suzy in front of the library windows
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The crowds gather for a storytime with Suzy Cato at Waitohi Johnsonville Library.

Author Erin holds a picture up to the group of children sitting in front of her. Two children have their hands up to identify the picture
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Author Erin Willson asks a question at the Te Māhanga Karori Library Animals in Winter session.

Author Erin stands between two groups of children as they roll large dice on the floor.
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Erin Willson leads a game at Te Māhanga Karori Library.

Eight teenagers lined up in front of their large audience grinning and waving.
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The talented improvisors of Wellington Youth Improv at Waitohi Johnsonville Library.

The audience laughs as one performer lies flat on his back while another approaches cautiously.
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There was a lot of laughing during the performance by Wellington Youth Improv at Waitohi Johnsonville Library!

Events with your librarians

A girl with long blonde hair smiles and holds her origami newspaper pot that she made
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A young gardener displays her freshly sown seeds at Puanga Kai Rau at Korimako Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library.

A child builds two scenes on two large LEGO base plates. A pile of challenge cards sits above one LEGO creation.
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A whetū-inspired build is worked on at Matariki me Puanga LEGO® Creations at island Bay Community Centre.

A display of books about Matariki and Puanga below a display of the night sky with stars coloured in by tamariki displayed on it.
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Look at some of the beautiful whetū created for our Purapura Whetū display at Korimako Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library!

A girl with long dark hair and a pink t shirt smiles and holds a LEGO base plate with a small house on it towards the camera.
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A builder shows off her creation at LEGO® Time at Tawa Community Centre.

A child stands at a small table while a librarian helps her fill her newspaper pot with potting mix
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A librarian helps fill a newspaper pot at Puanga Kai Rau at Te Takapū o Patukawenga Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library.

A library display on the wall of a night sky filled with stars coloured in by tamariki.
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Can you spot your whetū here on our Purapura Whetū display at Te Māhanga Karori Library?

Four children stand in a line holding up their newspaper pots
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Young gardeners show off their newspaper pots at Puanga Kai Rau at Te Māhanga Karori Library.