Get along to Matariki festival fun

Wairarapa reggae band Koia will be performing at the Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Matariki 2014 event being held at the Marist Rugby Ground Memorial Park on Friday evening. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

People of all ages and all cultures are invited to take part in Matariki 2014 celebrations.

Kahungunu ki Wairarapa is hosting the Maori New Year event being held at the Marist Rugby grounds in Memorial Park on Friday evening with a wide range of entertainment, crafts and Maori weaving including kite and poi making along with much more including food stalls.

Event organiser Tirau Te Tau said Matariki was a time of celebration and learning when the Maori New Year was celebrated and the previous year reflected on.

Matariki means little eyes.

"People relate to it like the Winter Solstice or the cluster of stars known as Pleiades; the time of harvest and replanting and looking back at the past year. It's a time for reflection and learning ... it's a time when we can replenish and harvest and be thankful for what we have.

"It's a time for celebration," she said.

And celebrating is exactly what the iwi organisation plans to do and they welcome everyone of all cultures to pop along and join in.

"This year we are bringing it back outside with a festival or night market feel about it. There will be free crafts and lots for families to do together. People can come down make their own kete [woven bag] and fill it with other things like poi they will make. They will be given feathers to decorate. One feather they will keep and the other will be used for a korowai [cloak]. Just come down and have a fun night filled with free entertainment.

"The best thing is we will have ta moko, contemporary stamps [temporary tattoo] that people can put on their faces.

"We want people of all ages and all cultures to join in. It's for everyone."

Entertainment will include Koia, a reggae/rock band from Wairarapa and Toni Huata who is bringing her Nga Tukemata o Matariki show which also includes Rangatahi band Pao and the Wagner Brothers. Dance Academy Rezpect will be performing with their dance crews also and there will be plenty of food stalls for people to buy food from.

The event will be held this Friday between 4pm and 7.30pm and is free to attend, which will conclude with a fireworks display.