E mihi ana ki a Matariki mā Puanga.

My wife and I send our warmest greetings to all those in Aotearoa New Zealand celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year. This year, I particularly acknowledge those iwi and regions that look to the star Puanga, or Rigel, to signal the New Year.

The rising of Matariki and Puanga on the Eastern horizon heralds a time to reflect on the past, to remember absent loved ones and to prepare for a prosperous future. It also marks a time where many different peoples and communities come together in celebration, united under the same night sky.

Regardless of how, or whether, one marks the lunar calendar, this moment offers an opportunity to learn and share knowledge, and to embrace the diverse traditions that shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique identity.

I wish you all a bright year ahead. Mānawatia a Matariki.

CHARLES R.

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