Matariki festival promises more

Ngatiwai Rangitane roopu prepare to start last year's Matariki Whanau Festival. Photo / John Stone

With performances from the J-Geeks and a set of Matariki Maori Markets on the Canopy Bridge, the Matariki Whanau Festival is bigger and better than last year.

While you enjoy the entertainment by J-Geeks, Tasty Brown and a raft of local talent on the main stage tomorrow, you will also be able to take in weaving, rongoa, traditional kai, ta moko, tamariki activities and more on the Canopy Bridge.

Rachel O'Gorman, marketing and events manager for Whangarei Venue and Events, said this year's event to celebrate the Maori new year will be bigger than the 2014 one.

"Matariki is such a big, important celebration for Maori, so we wanted to bring the community together, both Maori and non-Maori, to come down and learn about it," she said.

Ms O'Gorman said retailers in the Town Basin would be participating in the celebration with Matariki food on their menus and retail specials.

"We wanted to attract more people and it grows each year. A lot of services like Ngati Hine Health Trust, NorthTec, Pehiaweri Marae Hub have all got involved," she said.

One highlight of the event will be a station where kids can make LED Matariki lanterns.

"From 4-5.30pm kids will be able to make lanterns and then walk over to the pohutukawa tree, which is like a wishing tree, and they can hang their lanterns and make a wish for the community, and that will stay there during the entire duration of Matariki."

The event will held from 1-7pm tomorrow. The Matariki Maori Markets will be on the Canopy Bridge, while the entertainment stage will be outside Mokoba Cafe.

Main Stage
Non-stop performances from 1-6pm as headline acts include Maori funny guys, Tasty Brown, Phat 32. Top local entertainment is brought to you by NgatiHine Health Trust and includes Waimahana & Te Oho Mauri Henare, Martin Sisters, Iziah& Huia, Legion Dance Crew and Ben Ratima, with Kapa Haka groups Nga Matatupu o Whau from Whau Valley and Totara Grove School Kapa Haka.

For more information check out MatarikiFestivalWhangarei on Facebook.