Embracing Matariki: a time for reflection, celebration and new beginnings
Matariki signifies the start of the new year in Aotearoa, and it holds a special place for our Hemisphere whānau. With a rich heritage of celebrating this celestial occasion, Matariki is a time for reflection, cultural connection, and embracing new beginnings.
Matariki is the mother of eight whetū (stars); Pōhutukawa, Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipuna-ā-rangi, Ururangi and Hiwa-i-te-rangi, each whetū has their own domain and connection.
For our Hemisphere team, celebrating Matariki provides an opportunity to come together and honour our different cultures and heritage. It’s a chance to reflect on the past while welcoming the opportunities that lie ahead.
We use this time to plan ahead and reflect on the successes and challenges of the past year. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our rōpū. This year marked our transition from GSL Promotus to Hemisphere. This revolution better reflects our approach to working together and our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Matariki is our time to celebrate and embrace who we are, fostering a sense of unity within our little community.
This year marked another significant milestone with the launch of social change collective, Te Huihui o Te Kakau. The partnership with KŌ Kollective and IPRO strengthens Hemisphere’s proactive mahi in closing the divide for whānau and community.
As a team, we celebrate Matariki with a shared meal, with our favourite dishes from each whānau. Our gathering strengthens our bond as a team and allows us to honour and embrace our unique cultural backgrounds.
Spanning across the motu, the team at Hemisphere will start their Matariki festivities in Tauranga Moana on 21 June, coinciding with the winter solstice, while further south in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, our celebrations will begin on 13 July ready for the first sighting of Matariki.
In celebrating Matariki, we encourage you to celebrate Matariki in your own unique ways. Here are some ideas from our team;
- organise a Matariki feast featuring traditional foods like seafood, kūmara, and vegetables
- venture out for stargazing to admire the celestial display
- engage in Matariki-themed activities with tamariki
- attend local Matariki events that are taking place throughout Aotearoa
The whētu of Matariki serve as a guiding light for Hemisphere during this season, inspiring us to create work that is both meaningful and impactful. We believe in using our skills to make a positive difference in Aotearoa. It is only by working together that we can achieve our goals.
Mānawatia a Matariki.