As Aotearoa is about to have the first official public holiday to celebrate Matariki, the ABI team have also been holding some events to learn more about the significance of Matariki and also celebrate together.
A series of small TED Talk sessions have occured during June led by Te Rina, Māori Development Manager and Patricia, Kaiārahi Kaupapa Māori to educate the ABI team more about Te Ao Māori, Matariki and will culminate in the launch of Te Hekenga-ā-ora at the end of this month (watch this space for more info about Te Hekenga-ā-ora).
Last week the Auckland Intensive Rehabilitation site hosted a Matariki Hākiri (feast) for clients, whānau and the team. A big thank you to Patricia, her husband (The Hangi Cooker) and her hard working team of therapists who put together the feast and celebration. Patricia was able to prepare her Auntie’s recipe of Fry Bread and her Nan’s steamed pudding. The BBQ and hangi were firing on all cylinders.
Helena, Rehabilitation Services Manager said “The delicious smell of the hangi has been wafting around site all morning and clearly making everyone hungry as clients, staff and whānau members arrived in their droves at lunch time – we’ve never had such a turn out before!”.
Everyone on site who attended the Matariki Feast learnt a Matariki Waiata (song) which taught everyone the names of all nine stars in the cluster which was sung together just before having a kai (food).
Thank you to everyone for the part you played in making the celebration run smoothly – the cooks, the dish scrubbers, those who stayed to clean up, those who helped bringing clients up to join the celebrations and taking them back after their fill, the bread makers, the organisers and party planners. You all contributed to make our Matariki feast a true celebration.
A big thank you to our kaiwhakahaere (ABI Māori leaders) who are guiding us all on a journey to enhance our individual and organisational knowledge, Reo and skills in Te Ao Māori. Clients and whānau are certainly appreciating this.
To all of you, Mānawatia a Matariki, enjoy your day off, enjoy kai with your whānau, take time to reflect on the year that has been and plan for the year ahead.
