A Matariki celebration in Wairakei this Sunday, will involve the community coming together for an hour to mulch trees followed by shared kai, live music, and a chance to take part in weaving and the Māori traditional game ki-o-rahi.
Wairakei Community Group spokesperson Jenni Scothern-King says Matariki is a time for remembrance, joy, and peace, and for people to come together to celebrate.
Sharing through food and music is a powerful way to unify, she says.
As well as live music from WhutEversClever and late lunch prepared by Hare Rewi from Positive Kaibration, other activities include painting a rock to remember a loved one who has passed away and rat trap building.
In partnership with Greening Taupō, the mulching session will cover some of a 4.2 hectare indigenous ngahere (forest) planted two years ago.
The forest is dedicated to Wairakei resident Joe McCreadie who donated his time (and tractor) to mow the sports field at Wairakei Primary School for an astonishing 38 years, from 1985 until 6 months before he passed away in January 2023.
Joe’s son, Sheldon, says his father would do anything for anyone, and is proud of his father’s 38 years of service to the Wairakei community.
“The school tried to pay him, but he wouldn’t take a cent. He was a person who just did his thing and didn’t want any recognition,” says Sheldon.
The planting beside Wairakei Village, was instigated after a query by Wairakei Primary School parent and Kids Greening Taupō lead education coordinator Rachel Thompson about whether the area would be replanted following pine harvesting in 2021.
Eventually Greening Taupō special supporter and Wairakei Village resident of 18 years, Shawn Vennell was asked if he would take on the project.
Shawn says restoring the large site was challenging.
“The weeds were flourishing, there was a large volume of rubbish to deal with, the land condition was difficult due to the pine harvesting, and the area felt unloved,” he says.
Fifteen tonnes of domestic rubbish were dug up and trucked out, volunteers collected bags of rubbish, and 30 wrecked cars were taken away. Local earthmoving operators donated their time and machines to create a ‘beautiful blank canvas’, and the Taupō District Council community engagement team encouraged what is now Wairakei Community Group to partner with Greening Taupō for the first community planting day in 2023.
Wairakei school children were involved at each stage, including planting a Lizard Garden, to create a habitat for indigenous gecko and skink.
Rachel Thompson says she is happy children at Wairakei Primary School had the opportunity to experience a local indigenous planting restoration project, saying the kids helped with the rubbish cleanup, laid out the plants, then helped plant the trees.
Shawn and volunteer Shardul have spent countless hours weeding, planting, and liaising with others who are caring for the site.
Shawn says he and his family have spent hundreds of hours at the site.
“We’re now two seasons in. It looks like we’re going to get there. “It’s a real joy going there and knowing that people are caring for it.”
Those interested in attending the Matariki event should meet in Wairakei Village, beside the tennis courts at 1pm on Sunday, June 15. The cultural celebration runs from 2pm-3.30pm.
Closed shoes are advised if taking part in the mulching.
For more information contact Facebook Messenger @WairakeiCommunityGroup.
){kind=link}