Healthy Families Rotorua is proud to have supported Te Hautapu Umu Kohukohu Whetū o Ngāti Whakaue, a dawn Matariki ceremony held on Friday at the Rotorua Lakefront.
Where Healthy Families Rotorua once played a lead role in establishing the umu kohukohu whetū in Rotorua, this year’s ceremony represented a significant shift. Iwi are now taking the lead in shaping and delivering the kaupapa.
Practice & Development Lead Pirihira Whata says this evolution reflects a natural and important transition.
“At Rotorua’s first official Matariki event, we were helping to lead and show what this could look like. Now, it’s Ngāti Whakaue leading and us stepping back into a supportive role. That’s the vision. For the community to lead their own kaupapa and shine,” she says.
Pirihira worked closely with Tipene James, Te Paepae Tapu o Ngāti Whakaue, and Te Komiti Nui o Ngāti Whakaue to help prepare for the hautapu. Rotorua Lakes Council also supported the kaupapa.
This year’s ceremony built on the learnings from previous years and was enriched by the leadership of rangatira Tukiterangi Curtis and Richard Wharerahi. They guided the ceremony and contributed new karakia for the occasion and into the future.
“The beauty of this year’s kaupapa is that it’s grounded in relationships we’ve been nurturing for years. Our insights from earlier prototypes in 2022 and 2023 helped inform what was needed for a safe, meaningful, and authentic ceremony. We were excited to see it unfold under iwi leadership,” says Pirihira.
She says despite unpredictable weather leading up to the event, the Atua provided the perfect window for the ceremony to take place. The setting was warm and intimate, and the flow of the ceremony reflected the careful planning and lessons from past years.
“The koeke were pleased, and that was our main goal. We were able to implement what we’ve learned to create a safe and enjoyable hautapu,” Pirihira says.
The dawn ceremony was supported by a strong collective of ringa hāpai, including the Waikite Senior Rugby team, Raukura students, Whiria, and Māori Wardens. Each group played an important role in ensuring the event ran smoothly and respectfully.
Healthy Families Rotorua’s interest in kūmara grew out of its involvement with Matariki. This led to initiatives like supporting Kai Rotorua to grow and harvest kūmara for hautapu and contributing to the revival of ancient food storage practices such as the ana kūmara. These initiatives, which have received national media attention, reflect growing interest in mātauranga Māori approaches to wellbeing.
The mahi sits within a wider focus on enabling iwi to determine how Matariki is acknowledged and celebrated in their own rohe.
“It’s a time to remember those we’ve lost, to reflect on the year that’s been, and to prepare for what’s ahead. Supporting iwi to reclaim and revitalise these practices is where the real systems change happens.
“Matariki creates space for whānau to acknowledge loss, express mamae, and find comfort in the collective aroha of the wider community, which is an important part of Māori wellbeing,” says Pirihira.
This year’s hautapu offered an opportunity for locals and visitors to join Ngāti Whakaue in welcoming the Māori New Year in a meaningful and culturally grounded way.
“It’s powerful to witness the growing appreciation for mātauranga Māori in our communities. We’re honoured to walk alongside iwi as they lead us into this next chapter,” Pirihira says.
