The rain came down on Patea for Wednesday's Matariki/Puanga celebration, but that did not deter about 500 visitors from attending the event.
There was singing, dancing, workshops and feasting on offer, as children from the area kohanga reo, preschools and primary schools packed in to the Patea Area School Hall and classrooms.
There were workshops and stalls for face painting and henna body painting, a chance to help create a Matariki mosaic that will be raffled as a school fundraiser, and Andy Maruera was conducting his popular dance workshops.
The Armstrong brothers with their band The Slacks warmed the audience up with some classic rock before less seasoned performers took to the stage.
There were performances from the kohanga reo groups and visitors from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tamarongo in Opunake overcame their initial shyness to sing two waiata.