This year John Paul College will be prioritising the celebration of Matariki with every faculty involved. Our staff and student body are beginning to understand and appreciate the significance and richness of this annual event.
I would like to respectfully recommend to the Rotorua Lakes Council that our city abandon the anachronistic Guy Fawkes event in favour of a fireworks display to celebrate Matariki.
As the first bilingual city in the country it defies common sense that we celebrate each year an attempt to blow up the English Parliament 400 years ago.
Matariki is eminently more important and relevant for our community. Lighting up the winter sky in a dazzling display of colour and sound would capture the very spirit and essence of Matariki.
We must come of age and have sufficient confidence to take ownership of our own traditions and culture rather than clinging to an event which is totally disconnected to us.
