Tuesday 28 May 2013

Immerse yourself in Matariki at Christchurch City Libraries

Christchurch City Libraries (Ngā Kete Wananga-o-Ōtautahi) welcomes Matariki – the Māori New Year – with a series of free events designed to immerse visitors in the stories and meaning behind Māori names.

Matariki takes its name from the star cluster whose rise marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Māori lunar calendar. In 2013, this takes place on Monday 10 June.

“We look at the entire month of June as an opportunity to celebrate Matariki,” Carolyn Robertson, Libraries and Information Unit Manager, says. “Like all New Year’s celebrations, Matariki has traditionally been a time to both learn new things and reflect back, so we’ve developed a programme full of learning opportunities to explore origins of Māori names and the stories associated with them. There’s something for all ages.”

Activities include:

Matariki Story Time
Share stories, rhymes and songs themed around Matariki, books, music and movement. Sessions are 30 minutes, and suitable for tamariki aged 2–4 years.

Matariki School Sessions – Sharing Story at Matariki
Free 90-minute sessions for classrooms at the South Learning Centre. Sessions will cover Matariki’s significance, investigate the theme of Māori names and – using Christchurch City Libraries’ exciting online resources – hear the stories associated with local Māori place names.

Matariki Community Art project: Star-weaving in the Libraries
Come along to one of our hands-on star-weaving sessions – when it’s finished, add your star to the special display in your local library.

Takerei Norton
Takerei Norton will pay a visit to Central Library Peterborough to share the Ngāi Tahu Cultural Mapping Project – the collection of stories and names that have been gathered from Ngāi Tahu kaumātua relating to the land.

Rehua Marae
Visit Rehua Marae, 79 Springfield Road, for this series of community evenings featuring Kapa haka, Kōrero and storytelling for the kids. This will be followed by a Whānau Day with activities, entertainment, and plenty to see and do. For more information, please contact Raylee Price on (03) 355 5615.

Māori Language Week, 1–7 July 2013
Join us for Tales for Tamariki, a special story time series celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week. Programme includes stories, music, movement and rhymes. Sessions are suitable for children over two.

Activities are free. For times, information, or to collect a brochure, visit your local library or service centre or visit www.christchurchcitylibraries.com

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