🌟 Matariki Celebration at Kererū Marae Kia ora whānau!
We are still buzzing with excitement after an incredible Matariki celebration over the weekend of 22-23 July 2023 at the Marae! It was a beautiful gathering where we delved into our whakapapa, celebrated our culture, and strengthened the bonds that connect us as a whānau.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of a mere pounamu aptly named ‘Whakarauika’ a precious gift bestowed upon our Marae by Te Kenehi Teira for present and future generations. It really symbolises the importance of preserving our heritage and passing down the knowledge to future generations.
The waiata/karakia "Tirama ana mai" echoed through the marae, filling our hearts with a sense of unity and belonging. We felt the presence of our ancestors guiding us as we came together to honour Matariki.
Throughout the wānanga, we immersed ourselves in both new consciousness and kōrero tuku iho from our tūpuna. Learning from each other and from our shared history has been an enlightening and enriching experience.
Of course, no celebration is complete without delicious kai! We enjoyed traditional Maori delicacies and shared stories while enjoying each other's company.
The sense of togetherness and connection we experienced during Matariki has inspired us to take the next steps as a whānau. We want to harness this momentum as we embark on an exciting new project that involves developing a Hapū database, where we would like to collect contact details, whānau information and our whakapapa connections to Kererū Marae. This initiative will allow us to connect, reconnect and stay connected with our Marae and each other through the valuable data stored within the Marae data support team.
Let's continue this journey together, honouring our heritage, fostering our relationships, and building a stronger connected community. The future is bright, and we are grateful to have each and every one of you with us.
Noho ora mai,
Nā, Te Rōpū Hauora
#MatarikiCelebration #KereruMarae #Whakapapa #MaoriHeritage #CommunityStrong #TogetherWeGrow #MaraeDataSupportTeam