Labour Party - Speeches

Matariki Festival launch

04.06.2008

The Prime Minister speaks at the launch of the Matariki Festival. Auckland Museum

Thank you for inviting me to launch Auckland’s contribution to one of Aotearoa’s oldest cultural celebrations – Matariki.

The beautiful taonga surrounding us here at the Auckland Museum make this a highly appropriate place in which to launch this important celebration of Māori culture.

Festivals and cultural celebrations are vital expressions of identity. They help define who we are, they convey the values of the community, and they encourage us to connect with each other in meaningful ways.

Matariki provides an opportunity to celebrate and affirm the indigenous culture of our nation, and to reflect on the values which underpin these celebrations.

Through the celebration of Matariki we can all broaden our knowledge and understanding of Māori traditional practices.

Traditionally, Matariki was a time to celebrate the riches of the harvest, to feast, and to share bounty with others. It was also a time for reflection, learning, and planning for the future.

The young were given instruction about their environment, and important plants and trees. They learnt about the protocols surrounding food planting and gathering, and the measures required to conserve food sources.

Those basic messages remain relevant today as we consider how we can live in more sustainable ways, and how we can make sure that everyone is provided for, now and in the future.

This year, Matariki falls in the same week in which New Zealand is hosting World Environment Day on Thursday 5 June. During this week, communities throughout our country are showcasing what they are doing to protect our environment, raise awareness of environmental issues and make a difference to our overall wellbeing.

We all need to work in ways which minimise our impact on the planet and its natural systems, and we have to educate younger New Zealanders to act this way in the future for our common good.

There is also much to be said for celebrating who we are, remembering what is important to us, and passing this knowledge on to the next generation.

The focus on cultural expression in Matariki ensures that this process of cultural renewal continues.

Auckland is doing Matariki proud this year. The list of events in the region is pages long, and demonstrates how Matariki can be celebrated in the 21st century through :

Ngati Whātua o Orakei will host a hakari at their marae, befitting their role as mana whenua in Tamaki Makaurau.

And also look out for the Honouring Theatre performances, where indigenous plays from Aotearoa, Australia and Canada will be performed.

Matariki is becoming firmly part of our nation’s annual calendar, thanks to the efforts of individuals and organisations across New Zealand in recent years. This demonstrates an increasing commitment to indigenous culture, and that is exciting for New Zealand.

This month New Zealanders will have access to workshops about Māori astronomy, sailing by the stars, weaving, and carving. There will be opportunities to eat traditional foods and plant native plants. There will be performances of music, dance and drama available to see.

The Māori Language Commission has done a great deal to promote Matiriki over the years, and others around New Zealand have also worked hard to ensure that Matariki is celebrated appropriately in their region.

As the Māori Language Commission says, the renaissance of Matariki is a chance for all New Zealanders to remind ourselves of the very special place we occupy in the world.

In Auckland, the Toi Whenua collective of local councils and Creative New Zealand are to be commended for their support of Auckland’s Matariki events. I also thank local iwi for sharing their knowledge, kai, and waiata with others in the community.

This Museum’s focus for Matariki this year is on Tangaroa, god of the sea. Many activities have been organised around that theme, enabling Aucklanders to learn more about Māori customs and protocols related to fishing and gathering food.

I hope Matariki will continue to grow as more of our people across communities become aware of its place in our nation’s heritage.

I am now delighted to officially open the 2008 Matariki Auckland Regional Festival.