Matariki 2021
Building a resilient community where people belong and flourish is what our trust is al about. Matariki in Malvern which was held on the 26th of June saw that in action.
There were over 500 people in attendance all coming together to celebrate Matariki. People and children of all ages performed, created art works, ran hands on stations and helped out in volunteer capacities throughout the evening. With some volunteers coming along in the morning to help set up as well. It was a busy evening with some amazing performances and a delicious hangi shared with all the other attendees. It was a wonderful time time meet with friends, family and new friends as well.
There were amazing performances by the Selwyn Choir, Darfield High School Kapa Haka group, Rolleston Schools Pasifika group and the primary schools Kapa Haka collective group all singing together. the stage was packed with some young as five to senior members of the choir. It was a lovely demonstration of tuaka-teina, an important kaupapa (special reciprocal relationship of learning between older and younger people.) After speeches from Niamh Guy, Matthew Ashworth, Sophie Clarke and Mayor Sam Broughton, the program continued with the performances. All performances were very different sharing the cultural learning for our young people.
After all the performances everyone sat down to eat kai together. Darfield Butcher Blair Ward supplied fantastic cuts of meat which were cooked in a kai cooker. Fresh rolls from the Darfield bakery and and salad from Johnny Fresh were also enjoyed by all.
After the shared meal hands on stations were set up and. The stations were busy with some fun activities. Soon-Lee Spicer’s printing station was very busy with people creating fun prints. the house of bricks Lego was popular with some great kowhaiwhai patterns being made as well as a large marae building.
Ariana Batstone and Netty de Hertog led the harakeke weaving making frangipani flowers. Crafts and books from Selwyn Library were also popular.
the entrance way as well as the artworks that were exhibited on the walls were incredible and really enjoyed throughout the evening, the hall look really fabulous decked out in amazing art. Kelly, her team and the Two River Community Trust would also like to acknowledge the volunteers from Darfield Baptist church who worked so hard behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. thank you to all those people who helped out to make this whole event possible and to all those who came along as well.
And a huge thank you to our Major sponsors without whom this event would also not have been possible. Selwyn District Council and the Lotteries Community Funding
