Matariki is marked in many ways, but the Far North's most spectacular celebration of the Maori New Year 2012 took the form of a Te Kura o Te Kao Matariki Ball at Potahi Marae.
The kura whanau from Te Kao danced the night away with kuia, kaumatua, rangatahi and mokopuna taking the floor, the highlight of the night being the presentation of prizes, and crowning the Whatukura (King) and Mareikura (Queen) of the Ball, Daniel Ratu and Verity Rameka.
The other titles went to Willie and Alana King (waltz), Oneroa Bedggood and Chance Wi-Mulqueen (rumba), Debbie and Abbey Brown (foxtrot), Matiu Wiki and Credence Brown (jive), Ramone Ratu and Naomi Hohaia (chachacha), Paris Waenga and Raupo Brown (samba), Mark Nathan and Manahuia Nathan (kaumatua/mokopuna).
Te Runanga Nui o Te Aupouri Trust team leader Rosie Conrad said the ball had been a very appropriate celebration of a very important occasion on the Maori calendar.
"Traditionally, the visibility of the stars (the Pleiades cluster, or The Seven Sisters) was thought to determine the success of the coming season's crop," she said.
