Matariki Shines Bright In Central Hawke’s Bay

Monday, 13 June 2011, 10:43 am
Press Release: Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc

MEDIA RELEASE – 13 June 2011

Matariki Shines Bright In Central Hawke’s Bay

A mixture of schools and home-grown talent will headline the entertainment planned for Matariki celebrations at Central Hawke’s Bay on Friday 17 June.

Te Aute College, Central Hawke’s Bay College, Terrace School and Takapau Whanau Kapahaka Group will come together to perform at the A.W. Parson Stadium, Waipukurau.

The event is one in a number for Matariki from Wairoa to Wairarapa, being supported by Ngati Kahungunu Iwi from June 10 to July 8.

Organiser of the Central Hawke’s Bay Matariki celebrations Robert Ropiha, said the concert at the stadium would begin at 5.00pm and conclude at 8pm with a fireworks display.

Mr Ropiha said the eight piece Hastings reggae band Pure Vibrasionz would perform. There will be competitions and games in between the performances.

Mr Ropiha who is affiliated with the Waipukurau Community Marae, said this year there would be many young people coming back to Central Hawke’s Bay to be involved in Matariki, something he enjoyed seeing.

“I just like seeing the kids enjoy themselves and to be able to teach them what Matariki is all about. Matariki is really about giving and educating It’s something that our iwi, Ngati Kahungunu, can give back to our communities,” he said.

Te Kaihou Ngarotata will be one of the announcers on Friday night, she is currently graduating from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Media whilst working for Maori TV.

“Most of the performers at our Matariki will be the young ones, and it’s good to see up and coming young maori people like Te Kaihou coming home to be involved, we need to be able to promote our young ones more,” Mr Ropiha said.

He was excited about the chance to help organise this year’s Matariki concert but already had a few ideas to take the 2012 event to the next level.

“We’d love to be able to get the whole community involved in organising this event for Central Hawke’s Bay. A lot of the groups this year are Maori and next year we would like to have more variety in the entertainment.

“We want to open it up and get the whole community involved, doesn’t matter who you are, we want to embrace the community with Matariki,” he said.

The Central Hawke’s Bay Matariki celebrations start at 5.00pm and ends with a fireworks display in Russell Park at 8pm. There will be a variety of food, art, craft and exhibitor stalls.

ends

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