Weaving and Matariki

What better way to celebrate our first meeting in our new venue than with a talk from Clare Smith. Clare has been asked to share with us several times as she’s always trying new things, and exceling at new and interesting art forms.

An interest in basket weaving took her to lessons on weaving with Harakeke. The process was enjoyable and the satisfaction of making items people wanted was addictive. Clare found herself trying new patterns and bettering her technique, always challenging herself to do a tighter weave than last time.

She bought some of her woven items to share with us, as well as some samples of raw Harakeke fibre, with the unscraped end curling up to create a strong solid length often used for decoration.

It was a fantastic talk and discussion. Thank you so much Clare and we look forwards to having you again to share whatever new passions you find yourself excelling at in the future!

This was out first meeting in the new venue and people gathered from 6:30pm to eat together and chat. Tea and Coffee was available as you walked in, and sipping on a hot cuppa while browsing the library books was a great way to start the night!

July is Matariki so we took time to learn a little bit about it and why it’s so important. Some of our memories shared memories they have from being in school and witnessing Māori children being punished for speaking even a few words of their language, how awful it was to witness then and how those memories still upset today. This legacy of pain is important to us and so we wish to embrace the re-claiming of that space, learn about the customs and participate as much as we can.

Matariki is the start of the Māori new year when the Matariki star cluster becomes visible in the sky. The brightness of the stars has meaning for the year ahead and is a time to think back on the year gone, and celebrate the upcoming year with friends and family.

Matariki is the star that signifies reflection, hope, our connection to the environment, and the gathering of people. Matariki is also connected to the health and wellbeing of people.

Waitī is associated with all fresh water bodies and the food sources that are sustained by those waters.

Waitā is associated with the ocean, and food sources within it.

Waipuna-ā-rangi is associated with the rain.

Tupuānuku is the star associated with everything that grows within the soil to be harvested or gathered for food.

Tupuārangi is associated with everything that grows up in the trees: fruits, berries, and birds.

Ururangi is the star associated with the winds.

Pōhutukawa is the star associated with those that have passed on.

Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the star associated with granting our wishes, and realising our aspirations for the coming year.

Judi issued us a challenge last month to bring star quilts in this month to invoke the spirit of Matariki together.