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Otago Daily Times
18-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
The wisdom of the season
Like many in Ōtepoti Dunedin, I'm finally coming up for air after a whirlwind season celebrating Matariki and the Māori New Year. Or more truthfully, I'm curled up on the couch in front of the fire, wondering how I managed to get to so many kaupapa in the middle of winter. Each event I attended was beautiful, moving, heartfelt, and absolutely worthwhile. Heoi anō, if I'm honest, both my wairua and te taiao were gently whispering ''Rest. Stay in. Light the fire. Walk the dog.'' At one point, feeling māuiui as, I gave in and started antibiotics. I found myself in bed questioning my life choices. Me haere tonu au ki tēnei kaupapa? Do I really need to go? But each time I showed up, I realised: I wasn't alone. Most of us were in the same waka. Coughing, sneezing, handing out ibuprofen, and still turning up, carrying aroha with us. It felt like winter at daycare: tissues everywhere, everyone a bit run down, no-one too bothered. And yet, that's part of the beauty of this time of year. We gather. We remember. We honour our mātauranga, our ancestors, our whakapapa, and our stars. Somewhere between my third event in two days and my fifth cup of kawakawa tea, I had to laugh at myself. I'd come charging into the season like it was a checklist, forgetting that Matariki isn't just something we attend. It's something we feel. A time to pause, to reflect, to let go, and to reset. I found myself most drawn to the quieter moments. Standing outside at dawn with cold hands and warm breath, gazing at the stars. Lighting candles for those we've lost. Making soup from what's left in the cupboard. Reading a book instead of answering emails. These simple acts of stillness — of aroha and reflection — are just as much a part of the season as any public celebration. As wāhine Māori, we often carry so much. The unseen work, the logistics, the manaaki. We hold space for others, even when we're running on empty. But this season reminded me (again) that rest isn't being lazy — it's wisdom! Slowing down isn't giving up. It's an act of resistance to burnout. It's also a way of aligning ourselves with te taiao. Winter, after all, is the season of hibernation. We're not meant to bloom all year round. So to those who went hard this Matariki — ka pai! You showed up, gave your energy, and helped hold space for others. And to those who spent most of it curled up at home, honouring your own rhythm — ka pai hoki! That's the real magic of this season: there's space for all of us, in whatever way we're able to mark it. As Matariki and Puaka rise once again and the days slowly begin to stretch, I'm carrying a few quiet lessons into the new year. A renewed appreciation for stillness, deep gratitude for those who fill our spaces with aroha, and a gentle commitment to a slower, more mindful rhythm of life. Manawatia a Matariki me Puaka. May this new year bring you warmth, clarity, and just enough couch time to balance the kaupapa.
Otago Daily Times
21-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Another year in the life
Orokonui's takahē whānau is spreading its wings, Madison Kelly writes. The emergence of Puaka and Matariki in the night sky mark a period of change. Indicators of seasonal shifts and the incoming Māori new year, they compel us to look back, in preparation for the future. While colder months encourage us towards rest and reflection, our native birdlife is increasingly busy securing territories, mates and kai. The winter hustling of manu can be deceptively subtle. Peeping calls of kakaruai in the distance. A miromiro flitting past, beak full of nest-insulating lichen. Elsewhere in the sanctuary, certain pre-nesting agendas are more blatant. Throughout the grasslands, large clumps of disrupted earth pepper the ground. Neatly snipped toetoe lies in mysterious piles. Tussocks seem to bend at strange angles, compressed into miniature archways and domes. These industrious interventions are the work of takahē, who live under the care of Orokonui and the Department of Conservation's National Takahē Recovery Programme. Noticing signs of takahē browsing and nesting is an ecological treat. For many visitors, a journey in the valley may be their first and only chance to observe a wild environment complete with these mighty endemic swamp hens. Presumed extinct until their 1948 rediscovery in the Murchison Mountains, the resilient manu now number about 500 birds. These taoka live across a sparse but growing selection of sanctuary and wild sites throughout Aotearoa, first arriving at Orokonui in 2012. Recovery work begun 75 years ago saved the species from demise. Luckily, recent milestones at Orokonui point towards a more hopeful future for takahē. In the upper grasslands, a whānau of four are thriving. A recent visit from Doc saw positive health checks for both the breeding pair, Waimarie and Bennett, and their two juveniles, who also received their bands. The unique band combinations will act as visual identifiers for the rest of the juveniles' lives. The title for most surprising health check was undoubtedly claimed by the older of the two siblings, who weighed in at a hefty 2.8kg, already heavier than their mother Waimarie. Such results speak to Waimarie and Bennett's remarkable parenting, having successfully hatched nine chicks since their 2020 Orokonui translocation. Their capacity for chick-raising has been boosted by older offspring like Ihaka, one of three chicks from Summer 2023. Ihaka lived at Orokonui for a full year to help feed and care for his younger siblings. This year, he became the first Orokonui-born takahē to move directly into the wild. While many young takahē spend time honing their wild skills at Doc's Burwood Bush before release elsewhere, Ihaka graduated straight from the upper grasslands and joined a cohort in the Rees Valley, one of two wild sites on Ngāi Tahu land established in the past two years. Fitted with GPS tracking, information about Ihaka's movements and life in his new home will contribute to our growing understanding of wild takahē and their conservation. At Orokonui, supplementary plantings of haumata (tussock) — protected from browsing beaks by chicken wire cages — are now filling out open sections of pasture grass, getting ready to sustain incoming chicks and prepare them with vital foraging skills for their future departures. Of course, with departures come arrivals. At the valley floor, a new pair are finding their feet. Jessie, hailing from Burwood Bush, and Bounty, from Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary, bring the Orokonui population to six. While there's hope this young duo may one day raise their own chicks, their present task is adjusting to life on the east coast. Visitors walking the Robin Valley track are asked to give the young couple plenty of space while they take their time to settle. In many ways, Jessie and Bounty's arrival is perfectly timed for this turn in the year. Among new plans and new wishes for takahē we find a moment to reflect on their legacy in the sanctuary. Most recently, the lower valley site functioned as a retirement block for Orokonui's oldest takahē, Paku and Quammen. The pair lived the last 11 years of their lives at Orokonui and were impressive foster parents. Their first foster chick, Kotahi, later fathered our upper grassland's own Bennett. With each new season, the whakapapa and stories of these charismatic taoka become more richly woven. Ongoing work focused on takahē advocacy, sanctuary biosecurity, and developing our takahē friendly habitat are vital parts of the story. With the help of mana whenua, Orokonui staff, volunteers, and local supporters, together we can look forward to discovering how (and where) future takahē may roam. Madison Kelly is head kaiārahi/guide at Te Korowai o Mihiwaka Orokonui Ecosanctuary.
Otago Daily Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Matariki drone shows ‘all on'
Drones form the shape of a bird seemingly perched on University of Otago buildings during a rehearsal for Matariki displays at Logan Park, Dunedin. Two shows this evening are expected to be watched by thousands of people. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY The weather should be settled enough for Matariki drone shows in Dunedin to proceed successfully tonight and draw big crowds, an organiser says. "Wind's looking good. Rain's going away, so she's all on at this stage," Drone Sky Shows director Shane Wild said. The plan is for Dunedin's night sky to dazzle with drone lights, weaving local stories into the stars, from 6pm and 8.30pm at Logan Park. Last year's event attracted 15,000 people, prompting organisers to extend the event footprint across the park this year and have a large area for food trucks and dining. The MetService forecast scattered showers today would clear by noon. Tomorrow is set aside as a contingency night, just in case the conditions prove to be problematic. "I expect it to be fine [tonight]. Wind's low, no rain — we're all go," Mr Wild said. He described meticulous preparation to implement the vision. "We've got specialised people that do all the choreography for the show and make that wow factor," Mr Wild said. A pilot would run the software, and another pilot would be on standby. "So, he's got a manual control, too, if we need some help from him." The show was produced in collaboration with mana whenua and cultural and cultural advisers. Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou and Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki representatives Tāwini White and Paulette Tamati-Elliffe issued a joint statement about the project and Matariki generally. "This drone show celebrates our environment and traditional mahika kai, the procurement of highly valued natural resources that have sustained mana whenua over generations," they said. The 2025 theme acknowledged Matariki and Puaka as important stars. "During the national hautapu that was hosted by Ōtākou last year, a karakia for Puaka was included, as well as karakia to the stars of Matariki, to celebrate both," the mana whenua representatives said. "Together, they guide us into a season of reflection, celebration and hope. "It is a time of growth for our customs and our knowledge is strengthened through practice that can be shared with our community."
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Opinion: a time to pause, reflect and connect with whānau
Rebecca Swindells. Photo: supplied Matariki is the rising of the star cluster that marks the Māori New Year. It gives us a chance to slow down, come together and ground our mahi in te ao Māori. For those of us working in education, it is a powerful reminder that learning is not just about deadlines and assessments, it is about people, purpose and connection. Matariki invites us to pause and prioritise our wellbeing. We use this time to gather, share kai, reflect and plan. It is about remembering those who have passed, celebrating what has been achieved and setting intentions for the future. Not just in study, but in life. This week at Otago Polytechnic, we have been celebrating Matariki and Puaka with a full lineup of events. Some of our highlights have included creative activities such as mahi toi (arts) and tukutuku weaving, alongside daily reflection through Matariki huka nui and kapa haka performances. We have also shared kai throughout the week, including "Hangī in the Hub" (prepared onsite), bringing together ākonga (students), kaimahi (staff) and our hāpori (community). Matariki is a time to centre Māori knowledge and values such as kotahitanga (unity), manaakitanga (care) and wānanga (deep learning). It reminds us that success looks different for everyone and that sometimes, taking a breath is just as important as pushing forward. On a personal level, Matariki brings a gentle sense of peace. I think of my tīpuna and those I have lost. I share memories with my whānau and we reflect together on where we come from. Sometimes we visit a memorial, sometimes we just sit and talk, but always, I feel that quiet connection across generations. Matariki is not just a Māori version of the new year's celebrations. It is a time to pause, reconnect and dream. Whether you are in a classroom, at work or with whānau, I hope you find space to breathe, to remember and to look forward. That is what Matariki is about.
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Museum celebration fun, interactive
Events manager Rachel MacJeff holds a baby constellation mobile, one of many items people can create during a Puaka Matariki Community Fun Day at Tūhura Otago Museum tomorrow. PHOTO: SAM HENDERSON The chill of midwinter will not dim the warmth of a dawn gathering welcoming the new year sky. Tūhura Otago Museum's Matariki programme starts early tomorrow. The public is invited to a 6.45am dawn gathering outside the museum, when the past year will be farewelled and the new one welcomed. Events manager Rachel MacJeff said the whakamaumahara (memorial) to honour those who had died had been shortened to improve the ceremony's flow. All are are invited bring an image of whānau or friends who have died in the past year, either printed or on a phone. During the whakamaumahara, everyone will be asked to hold the image of their loved one and speak the person's name aloud. "It is a time to think about that person and celebrate their life." After the ceremony finishes, all will be invited to enter the museum for kai and to watch a kapa haka performance by He Waka Kōtuia. A community fun day, aiming to balance celebration and learning, will begin at 9.30am. "I think it's a significant holiday for the museum because it is a combination of the culture and the astronomy and the rising of Puaka," Ms MacJeff said. At the Tangata Whenua Gallery, Dr Jennifer Cattermole will showcase taoka puoro (traditional Māori musical instruments) and invite the public to have a play. In the Hutton Theatre, Jade Morgan will demonstrate mau rakau (Māori martial arts). In the planetarium, free screenings of Mārama ā-Whetū — Light of the Stars will explore Māori sky lore, myths and legends. The short film Waka Whetū will explore celestial navigation. A Matariki edition of the museum's Night Sky Live will also screen in the planetarium, explaining the constellation so people can learn more about its astronomy. Visitors will be able to try a range of crafts, such as making a spinning planisphere, a constellation mobile or a tea-light lantern. Ms MacJeff hopes the blend of culture, community and science will attract a wide crowd. "We hope that people see the museum as a really positive place to come and learn more and celebrate with the community." The dawn gathering and community day has been organised in partnership with Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and the Dunedin City Council. MATARIKI AT THE MUSEUM Matariki Ahuka Nui Dawn Ceremony 6.45am Tūhura Otago Museum Reserve Puaka Matariki Community Fun Day 9.30am to 3pm Tūhura Otago Museum
