On Rēkohu, the largest island in the Chatham Islands, Moriori and Ngāti Mutunga will mark the new year celebrations together. Photo: Black Iris Productions
On Rēkohu, in the Chatham Islands, traditional practices around Puanga are just one of the traditions being rediscovered.
Moriori historically celebrated the star Puanga or Rigel to mark the new year.
Hokotehi Moriori Trust chairman Hayden Preece said they are going through a mass rediscovery of their culture and traditions.
"There is very little information about our traditions to be honest, one thing that we have found is that people would gather at the rising of Pūanga and they would point a stick with a kopi berry seed tied to the end and they would chant speeches of worship asking for fruitfulness of the kopi tree."
The kopi tree - or karaka - was extremely important to Moriori, it was one of the only sources of carbohydrate in their diet so it was a integral to their survival, he said.
"Part of the exciting rediscovery is we get to also add to these things. It's in line with most of our Polynesian cultures... to have that connection to the stars and to agriculture."
Preece said Moriori operated on a 31 day lunar calendar and had names for every single one of those days, currently they have rediscovered 26.
"So we know the first day Whiro is unlucky, avoid planting, fishing, travel, things like that."
Next Wednesday students from Te One School on Rēkohu will hold their own hautapu ceremony, which Preece said will create some awareness for the children.
Being able to convey that knowledge to the next generation is really important, he said.
95 percent of the population of Moriori have left the island, with only about 80 registered members on the island, he said.
"Here on island with our limited population we tend to support and work together with our Ngāti Mutunga counterparts, not much point in trying to duplicate two different ceremonies, so we do a dual ceremony this year. We will look to expand and do our own one possibly next year and moving in to the future, but this year we are just going to support."
Preece said he absolutely supports the idea of a national holiday.
"It's awesome to see our culture being recognised across the board, our wider Polynesian culture too, it's important to so many people."
Preece said he would love to see the national hautapu ceremony on the Chatham Islands one day.
"We would welcome that opportunity. We might be a little bit stretched with our logistics and our ability to cater but we are a pretty resilient and resourceful people, we could make it happen.
"Me rongo. And have a safe and happy Moriori new year."
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