Puanga leads the celestial signs to herald the new year
Ngā uri o Ngāti Tawhirikura convened at Katere marae on our national Matariki holiday to reignite the ceremony of Hautapū. There were thirty to forty whānau present to celebrate the Māori new year, where an amazing hākari was prepared incorporating a wonderful array of produce from our farm and maara. Fresh mutton, pork, taewa, kumara, paukena, and taro were prepared and cooked in a hangi at the marae in the early hours of the morning.
Our urban marae and farm produced every part of the hangi (except the delicious fry bread), which was truly spectacular to witness and be part of.
During kai preparation throughout the night, Matua Glen Skipper shared stories from transcripts that were retrieved in the early 1970s from kaumaatua sharing memories of Hautapu and the ascending of Puanga, as well as observation of Matariki.
Just before sunrise, Matua Keri Opai led our uri in the formalities and kawa. Karanga was the first to initiate the ceremony, followed by Karakia and whakawhanaungatanga. All uri contributed to the preparation and cutting of the meat after the hangi was pulled out. The new year was ushered in with beautiful kai shared by all of us.
This was such a special occasion, so much so that we did not have much time to capture many photos of the hautapu as we were immersed in the magnificence of a truly remarkable, wairua enriching day. (It was something you really had to be there to experience).
Whānau had opportunities to hear updates regarding Te Kāhui Rau project in wānanga and kōrero before being sent home with hakari parcels they could share with their wider whānau. A lovely way to not only celebrate the end of the harvest but also the beginning of our Māori new year.
‘ He punaga kai rau’, ‘ When Puanga rises, food will be abundant’. Mauri ora!