'Matariki Craft Afternoon' and 'Northcote' on a star cluster background.

Matariki craft success

- Events

On 30 June, Onewa Christian Community ran a Matariki craft afternoon in Northcote for school aged children and their whānau. Cathy and the team delivered an event that had several points of success. Cathy says, ‘I love the way people talked to each other and all expressed appreciation for the afternoon.’      

An adult and four children folding paper stars.
Making paper stars for Matariki
Two adults and two children at a craft table. A woman is smiling as she helps kids with weaving.
Weaving paper strips
A man and a woman help kids make paper lanterns.
Making and decorating lanterns

What made our Matariki event a success?

  • A friendly atmosphere in which the kids and their families (including small babies) chose to stay and mingle for the full two hours. Kai and socialising as well as crafts for the around 40 guests and 15+ church folk present.
  • Through waiata and learning to make poi, kids participated in sharing the significance of Matariki. They engaged readily around the symbolism of the Matariki cluster and this time of the year. Thanks to Raya and Carlo for their wonderful support.
  • Guests included Northcote residents who came to our Easter crafts AND families who attend mainly music at our church some distance away AND a couple of people who had turned up to chat because it was our event. (All in Friday afternoon traffic on a stormy day.)
Wahine Māori leaning on a whiteboard; waiata words and star names written on the board.
Raya leads waiata
Two women and two kids at a craft table.
Bright and shiny crafts
Three adults and a young boy at the table where you could weave paper strips.
Making woven crafts
Pleates of cakes, biscuits, sandwiches and fruit on a bench.
Plenty of kai
Long row of guests and helpers at craft tables, adults and children. Stickers etc. visible.
Lots of interest in the crafts
Woman watches a boy fill in his quiz paper.
Filling in the Matariki quiz

The generosity of our church members (plus a venue and helper from a neighbouring Methodist church) and PressGo support came together to create a time for meaningful connections. We were also able to promote other Matariki activity planned for the area. And, of course, toddlers enjoyed the big toys set up for them.

Wahine Māori takes answers from kids . They have their hands up, eager to speak. She is holding a whiteboard with writing on it.
Raya talking with the kids about Matariki
Woman and children looking at a Matariki poster.
Looking at a Matariki poster
Adults and children cluistering around a craft table.
People were keen to get to the craft tables
Women at a craft table. Some participants are wearing Moslem headress.
A popular craft table

Greg, our Director of Community Engagement, gathered and tested ideas for new activities we’ll trial, including a knitting group for youngsters and a language ‘market’ to invite speakers of different languages to meet up to exchange something of their respective languages. What are your ideas? Let us know.