It is hoped Matariki will give those in cyclone devastated areas a chance to reflect on the past and look to the future. Photo: Public Domain, ex NASA
Whānau in cyclone devastated areas are now turning their attention towards Matariki in a move to help the community reflect on the past and look forward to the future.
Marae and community leaders are hoping to raise the wairua of whānau in Hawke's Bay and Tai Rāwhiti by coming together and celebrating the Māori new year.
It has been a taumaha, or heavy time, for East Coast whānau but the rise of Matariki is hoped to bring brighter days.
Waimārama Marae nestled on the East Coast of Hawke's Bay will celebrate their first hautapu on 14 July with a ceremony at dawn which about 400 people are expected to attend.
A hautapu is an ancient Māori tradition of feeding the star cluster through steam produced by cooked kai.
Along with a massive hakari, there will also be karakia and waiata.
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi chair Bayden Barber said he was looking forward to it after a rough year.
"I think it's going to be really important, it's about the healing process. It's about bringing our whānau together, it's about having a good time. It's about fun, it's about whakapapa, it's about connection," Barber said.
"You can't come to a Māori hui without waiata, haka, karakia, it'll be all on show. Everything good about te ao Māori will be on show at these hautapu ceremonies."
A suitable whetū he would reflect on was Pohutakawa, the star that represented those who had passed on.
Barber said as part of the ceremony Te Waka O Rangi, which is the star constellation, and its captain Taramainuku, would cast his net down to sweep up the spirits of those who had passed on over the year in their final journey to become stars.
"It's about acknowledging what happened, and those that have passed on, we've got a big job ahead of us as Kahungunu, Hawke's Bay, greater Hawke's Bay people to work our way through the rebuild," Barber said.
Destruction in Wairoa following Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: Jamie Tahana / RNZ
Meanwhile in Wairoa, the town is still in recovery mode after being devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the star in the cluster that represents our wishes and aspirations for the future. Kaiwhakahaere He Oranga Poutama Esta Wainohu hoped the town could get back on its feet soon.
"We get back to a place that everyone has a home, everyone is kind of back to there normal. Not having to worry about the silt under their house," Wainohu said.
She was organising a whole week of Matariki activities including a whānau concert on Friday and she expected about 1000 people to attend.
The town's playground will also be illuminated with 1000 lanterns and whānau are invited to write stories to attach on to the lights.
Wainohu hoped this year's celebrations would lift the wairua of whānau.
"What we're wanting to do is give them a space where they can come and just be amongst the community. We want to give them somewhere where they can come and feel the happy vibes, positive vibes and it's in time and need that they come together," she said.
Further up the coast in Tokomaru Bay, this year's theme was Matariki Kāinga Hokia, meaning Matariki calls you home.
Hapū member Te Aorere Pēwhairangi said it was a time for whānau and remembering our role as kaitiaki.
"It's not just to spend time with our whānau but to go home and give back what you can to give back to those spaces. Matariki Kāinga Hokia is a bit of a challenge to us to remember our responsibilities to our whānau and to the places we call home," Pēwhairangi said.
Pākirikiri Marae was having a mokopapa where a few hapū members would get their moko kauae along with Umu Kohukohu - or hangi. Relative stars include Tupuānuku, food grown in the ground - Tupuārangi, kai linked to the sky - Waita representing the ocean and Waitī connected to fresh water.
The star that stuck out the most to the marae was Matariki, which represented well-being and health, but Pēwhairangi said the cluster as a whole was important.
"We have to consider all nine stars, as Māori the health of not only people but the land is holistic. So we don't put one above the other, we have to consider all of them to create a balanced whole," Pēwhairangi said.
Pēwhairangi's wero - or challenge - for everyone was to come together and work out solutions on how to move forward.
