March 24, 2017
Manuhiri story opens Matariki festival
Ngati Manuhiri says it’s looking forward to being the host iwi for this year’s Matariki Festival.
Spokesperson Mook Hohneck says it’s great Auckland Council has chosen to partner with mana whenua iwi for the midwinter arts and culture festival, with Ngati Paoa doing a great job next year.
While it’s not the most well known tribal group within Tamaki Makaurau, it’s a chance to highlight the stories of its ancestor Manuhiri who migrated from Kawhia about 400 years ago.
"We are the only large natural grouping in the Mahurangi. We have always been here. So we are looking forward to telling our story and using our iconic image of our matua pou Manuhiri, to front that for us, so we are looking forward to all of the community and all of the other iwi and tribal groupings to come on our day and absorb and observe Manuhiritanga at its best," Mr Hohneck says.
The dawn karakia to open the Matariki festival will be on June 10 at Tawharanui Regional Park past Matakana.
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