As a mid-winter harvest festival — timed from the appearance of Matariki, the Pleiades star cluster — Matariki creates a meaningful moment.
- We can pause to remember our Creator’s provision in the prior harvest season
- We can gather together with family and community
- We can look together to new hope in the year that is ahead.
- Remembrance — bringing hope
Take time as a family to remember our blessings – including stories from the long and remarkable history of our nation and its culture. We live in one of the most free, prosperous, equality-based and charitable nations on the planet. Let’s remember those who have gone before by telling their stories.
- Thanksgiving — bringing joy
Take time over kai with family and community to thank God for His provision, naming the many things we can each be grateful for.
- Reflection — bringing new vision
Use the pause Matariki creates to prayerfully reflect on each person’s hopes for the year ahead. What could be achieved or different in the coming year?
- Care of Creation — to be good stewards
Notice, enjoy and care for God’s creation. Pick up rubbish. Plant a vegetable garden or fruit tree on your property. Recycle wherever possible. Steward the world well.
- Care for Community — to love as Jesus loved us
Share kai, welcome others, and strengthen wider community connections. We share this world and nation together.
- Cultural Expression — to know our history
Bring your faith and a recognition of the Māori component of our national identity and culture together, by worshipping through karakia / prayer, waiata / song and Scripture, including use of te reo Māori where possible – remembering the great hope we have.
- Teaching & Awareness – to spread the love
Help others to appreciate this season and opportunity to pause from the busyness also.
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?… Lord, our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-4,9.
We look up — we look around us — and we look within.
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