Matariki festivities at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre will combine art, kapa haka, kai, mau rākau and waiata to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future.
Led by local artists Dallas Mihinui and Jason Messant, the celebrations will include a gallery installation opening Friday 14 July featuring art works telling the stories of the seven whētu (stars) of the Matariki constellation. The art pieces will be sold as a silent auction.
“It’s going to be an awesome celebration and one of our main goals is to show people what each individual star represents.”
It was art that brought Dallas and Jason together when Jason was still at school as Dallas was teaching art.
“Jason would have been about 15 and he was one of my first art students when I was doing a workshop in Hamilton.”
Dallas has taught art to youth for 18 years and he loves engaging in community projects. Raglan-based mixed media artist Jason Messant works at the Wharf Gallery under the mentorship of Fatu Feu’u.
“Jason and I have historically worked together on a number of projects. We’ve always gelled in terms of fusing our thoughts. For this exhibition we’ve come up with a process which will be a fusion of mixed media.”
Dallas says celebrating Matariki was not a part of his childhood but around 20 years ago he became aware of it and even named his daughter after the constellation.
Although Matariki was widely celebrated before the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand, it was only in 2020 that the government announced its intention to establish a public holiday, which was held for the first time last year.
The date of the Matariki public holiday will shift each year to align with the Māori lunar calendar. It will be observed on a Friday, usually in late June or early July.
As well as heralding the New Year for Māori, Matariki is a significant time of the year for Māori as it signals the end of harvest season.
Dallas says a community celebration on Friday 21 July will be an opportunity to come together to mark this important time of the year for Aotearoa.
Hosted by MC Gavin Dempsey, the evening will begin with a mihi whakatau at 5pm and continue with a Raglan Area School kapa haka performance, a Raglan Kindergarten kai fundraiser, music and waiata by Wiremu McCarthy and a mau rākau (weapons) demonstration by Jeremy Murray.
With a talent for playing what suits the vibe of the occasion and creating positive energy, Dallas says Wiremu’s music is uplifting and authentic.
Mau rākau specialist and youth consultant Jeremy has been passionate about traditional Māori forms of healing and medicine along with traditional forms of exercise and Māori weaponry for the better part of 15 years.
Dallas says Jeremy will also provide the opportunity for people to have a go with the mau rākau.
