Matariki Celebrations

As Matariki rises in the night sky we are celebrating the time of harvest and the beginning of the Maori new year. We have been sharing stories about the stars of Matariki and preparing and sharing Kai together. Today the children bought along a vegetable to add to delicious soup. We cooked sausages and the children toasted marshmellows on the brazier in the kindergarten playground.

While the fire was being prepared the children helped to illustrate the story of the seven little fishes caught in the fishermans net and rescued by  Tama nui te Ra who took pity on them. He flung them into the sky where they became the stars of Matariki. Six of the stars he named, Tupua nuku, Tupua Rangi, Waiti, Waita, Waipuna o Rangi, Ururangi, and the seventh with no name is for any child to give their name.
If you would like to see a little story about this go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvWU-Wl4Ycc&safe=active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvWU-Wl4Ycc&safe=active