Join Te Ohu Whakaita Charitable Trust (TWO) and Friends of Hamilton Gardens at a dawn ceremony in Te Parapara garden to welcome in the Maaori New Year: Matariki followed by a light breakfast and guest speakers in the Hamilton Gardens Pavilion.
The significance of Matariki is to celebrate the Maaori New Year, which is heralded by the appearance of the star cluster known to most as the Pleiades.
Te Karanga o te Tau Hou is the platform on which TOW launches an inspiring series of Matariki ki Waikato (MKW) community events. This event brings together many communities throughout Waikato/Kirikiriroa to celebrate an important occasion in Te Parapara Hamilton Gardens; ‘The Maaori New Year’.
TOW partner with Friends of Hamilton Gardens to launch the festival nearest to the birth date of King Korokii Te Rata Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau Te Wherowhero’. The meaning of this date to Tainui is that the Matariki cluster was seen shining directly above Waahi Paa on 16 June 1906, the birth date of King Korokii. The Matariki cluster is acknowledged and celebrated by Tainui in Te Paki O Matariki –The Kingitanga insignia.