Showcasing 2008 Matariki Events
Matariki marked in style - Wairoa (source: Wairoa Star)
Matariki festivities in Wairoa went off with a bang on Friday night with the biggest turnout per capita in the country. Organisers estimated more than 600 people enjoyed the evening concert that featured loads of local talent and concluded with a fireworks display over Alexandra Park. Talent featured included Ngati Kahungunu regional champion kapa haka group Te Rerenga Kotuku as well as Wairoa College’s award-winning band Upper-2-Street.
Other performers included the college senior choir, college bands Easy Does It, Fallescent Flava, Fusion and solo singers Liana Denton-Giles, Leeson Karauria, Ropata Kuru, Te Aniwa Spooner and Daniel Te Amo. One of the youngest performers was Rose Campbell with her rendition of Gotta Go My Own Way from the movie High School Musical. Among the oldest was the Wairoa Taikura kaumatua kapa haka group. There was also a krumping showdown featuring Wairoa krumpers, a performance from local band Heart and Soul and Te Ataaraangi o Te Wairoa.
This year’s Wairoa Matariki Festival was an all-day event for the first time, beginning at 9am with Wairoa children from pre-schools, kohanga reo and schools throughout the district turning out for a Maori games day at the community centre.
Titled He Ao Kori: A World of Movement, activities included whai (string games), knuckle bones, spinning tops, tirakau, stilts, poi, tititoria (stick games), purerehua, niore, taiaha, flax weaving and kite making. He Ao Kori was organised by Sport Hawke’s Bay and Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated and was built on the successful Maori Games Day held at the community centre in March.
It was all about the tamariki at Matariki celebrations on Friday night and one of ..those tamariki just happened to be called Matariki . . . . There was plenty going on for young Matariki Olsen-Smith (left), accompanied by Finlay Henry and Piripi Barker.
Wainuiomata Marae Matariki 2008 Event
