Our Wellington Matariki & Puanga Festival
The sound of little voices singing waiata filled the room as seven of our Wellington region early learning services came together to celebrate Matariki and Puanga in an evening filled with culture and community.
For many of our tamariki, the evening was the highlight of weeks spent learning about the significance of Matariki and Puanga. Through stories, waiata and kōrero, they explored the importance of remembering those who have gone before us, celebrating the present and looking ahead with hope for the future.
Each service proudly shared two waiata they had learned together, with every performance reflecting the confidence, enthusiasm and unique personalities of our tamariki. The evening concluded with everyone joining together to sing Tīrama, the Barnardos Aotearoa waiata, creating a powerful feeling of kotahitanga that filled the room.
Behind every performance were weeks of preparation, learning and encouragement from our incredible kaiako. As Lower Hutt Centre Manager Krithi shared, the journey was about much more than preparing for a performance. It was an opportunity for tamariki to deepen their understanding of te ao Māori, strengthen their sense of belonging and proudly share their learning with whānau and the wider community.
The celebrations continued over shared kai, laughter and conversations with whānau, while for many tamariki, the bus ride to and from the event became an adventure in itself and one they'll be talking about for some time.
The feedback from whānau after the event was incredibly heartwarming and reflected just how special the evening was for so many families.
"That was so special. The Lower Hutt crew were so patient and well organised, and the tamariki finished on such a high. It is so great that our kids get exposed to all sorts of character-building experiences. Thank you so much, you and the teachers are doing such a wonderful job."
– Hannah, Lily's mum
"It was awesome to see the kids all up there performing! Oscar was particularly excited for the bus trip and had so much fun. We were very proud. Thank you for keeping them safe and arranging everything."
– Abigail, Isla & Oscar's mum
"Thanks to all the team for providing this opportunity! It was wonderful for the tamariki to build confidence and see that they are part of a much wider Barnardos community."
– Rebecca, Delphi's mum
Behind every performance was a team of people who believed in our tamariki. Thank you to our Centre Managers, kaiako and whānau for the weeks of preparation, encouragement and care that made this celebration so special. We'd also like to acknowledge everyone who helped bring the evening to life, including our wider Barnardos whānau and special guests. Most importantly, thank you to our incredible tamariki. Your confidence, pride and joy made the evening everything it was.
Mānawatia a Matariki.
