Matariki Promises a Month of Art and Culture

Matariki Promises a Month of Art and Culture in Papakura

Papakura is preparing for its 2010 Matariki festival.

Matariki is the celebration of the Maori New Year and renewal of life. The Matariki constellation is also known as the Pleiades. It sits upon Orion’s Belt and indicates the time to turn the soil in readiness for planting.

In Papakura, Matariki is celebrated with a month-long festival of arts and culture. The festival begins with a dawn ceremony to welcome Matariki on 14 June and concludes on 16 July at the Acoustic Soul Evening. This event joined Papakura Matariki Festival for the first time in 2009 and was one of the big hits of last year’s festival.

The Festival this year consists of 11 events in total. Many events are back by popular demand - such as the Mau Raakau Wananga (at Papakura Marae) and Trash n 2 Fashion Exhibition (at the Sir Edmund Hillary Library). In fact, demand was so high last year for the Papakura Matariki Fashion Show that it has been expanded to be shown on two nights.

New to the festival this year are the Maori Playwrights Festival and the Atamira Dance Company performing Whetu.

Papakura Matariki Festival is organised by a small group of dedicated local volunteers, who put in countless hours to pull the festival together. In the three years since its inception the festival has grown hugely in popularity and reputation.

Programmes are downloadable from www.papakuraarts.co.nz. Hard copies are also available at the venues and the Council offices.

Organisers say many Matariki events sell out quickly. They are urging people to make book for events using the details listed in the programme or at www.iticket.com as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

ENDS

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