Just before the term break our whānau here at Central Kids Owhata Kindergarten gathered to share kai and celebrate Matariki. This has become a regular event for our whānau, a ritual that we share with them each year.

After a delicious kai of soup, rewena and fry bread we finished off our kai with Nanny Max’s Steamed pudding…Yum!

Another exciting part of our Matariki ritual is our glow room, where we set up a glow in the dark space for our tamariki, this year with a waka, the stars the tamariki make and other decorations to glow under the black light.

As Matariki is also a time to remember our family and friends who have passed, we put together a presentation with pictures of our loved ones.

Lastly we always have our star tree, where our whānau write or draw their messages to their loved ones who have passed or write their hopes and dreams for the coming year.

Our Matariki night has become such a special time, one our whānau and families look forward to each year.

“Matariki is a time to reflect on the year gone by and a time to plan for the possibilities in the year to come.

Ko Matariki te tohu ki te wānanga i te tau kua hipa, me te whakamahere i te tau e tū mai nei.”    Rangi Matamua