Matariki Ahunga nui, Matariiki hunga nui, ka kite a Matariki ka maoka te hinu'
Matariki signifies the start of the maori new year and in this new year a few of the sisters are a about to embark an a massive new journey'
This week two very important events took place. These events fell in the time where some say is the best time to view Matariki which is during the Tangaroa phases. These events were for a group of amazing, tenacious, kind-hearted, beautiful, caring sisters of mine. It is at this time they are to receive their moko kauae.
I was honored to watch the nohi Mahinarangi Hakaraia receive her moko kauae on Wednesday and then to Palmy on Saturday to see Nohi Jah and Jordy receive theirs too.
For years Nohi Ma had been sharing her desire to wear her moko kauae but had debated within herself about weather or not she was ready for it or even worthy of carrying it.
I remember telling her it was her birth right and who cares what everyone else thinks and it should only be about her as she will be the one wearing it.
Last week Nohi Mā messaged us and said the date was set and asked us to come along. I was so stoked! Wednesday is a very busy day for me so I cancelled all of my after school meetings and training's as I wanted to be there to support my nohi. Tuesday night I saw nohi Ma and we were talking about how exciting the next day would be, I had also shared that I was up early that morning outside viewing the stars and reciting karakia. I said that the morning sky was stunning and a real site to behold. We decided that the next morning we would go to sand dunes and do some karakia and see if we could see Matariki.
Wednesday morning-(Moko kauae day)
In the early hours of the morning Nohi Ma and I climbed up the kuia Hinetuakirikiri. When we got to the top you could see the darkness adorned over Ōtaki. Rows of streetlights and pockets of darkness of the lands. Above in the sky was a very bright Tanagaroa-a-mua moon. She was stunning! The stars glistened and lit up the morning sky. We searched for Matariki but couldn't quite find them however we were fortunate to see a tupuna shoot across the sky.
After realigning Nohi Ma found Matariki and it was beautiful a bit cloudy but stunning. We sat silence for a while as we observed the beauty of where were were in that point in time. We stood and joined our tupuna and recited all the karakia that we knew, we took in all the surroundings did our last mihi to Matariki and made our way home.
The day passed quickly, I left school early and made my way to Levin. I was really excited! When I arrived at the destination I was introduced to Wiremu Barriball who was the artist Nohi had chosen. Nohi Ma`s whānau were there and they seemed content. Nohi looked nervous but happy too.
We proceeded to the room and Wiremu started his mahi, the room was very quiet with some music playing softly. It was a peaceful process, Pat stood at a close enough distance to observe everything that was happening he seemed somewhat nervous but content in the same breath. The Nohi's mum and grandparents sat at a distance patiently awaiting for the process to complete. Tiana would go in and have close ups and then go back to her spot, she seemed very intrigued with the process as did Athena the nohi's niece. Te Ahitaewa and Kaea were quiet and happy but kept there distance during the process which didn't take long at all.
At the completion of receiving her moko kauae she sat up and her moko kauae looked like it was always there. It was absolutely stunning! When she got off the table everyone got up to mihi to the Nohi. Her grandfather held her face to have a look at he looked very proud. I got a bit teary eyed as I thought what an honor to have your parents and grandparents present at such an event in your life. It was an honor to be apart of this journey with my nohi.
Fast forward to Saturday the second major event on the lunar calendar took place although I wasn't present I drove to Palmerston North to eat and celebrate the other nohis getting their moko kauae. And oh my word!!! They are both stunning! What an awesome way to celebrate this time of year.
I am grateful to have such beautiful sisters! Mana wahine xx
Hari tau hou māori e ōku tuakana!
This weekend was a very interesting. Sadly I lead into the weekend knowing that I wasn't going to be participating in the whakaaturanga. Having had to sit on the side for my rugby grand final I had accepted that the same thing was to happen so I was mentally prepared for that.
As the night went into day and the day into night I observed everyone learning the final moves, knowing where there places are, perfecting grasps of their rākau, preparing the marae atea, weaving and fitting kākahu, embodying the movements of their rākau, embodying what is looks like to be a certain bird, mastering the footwork, mastering moving as one, thinking about the best place to stand, remembering lines, battling with egos of others, battling with your own ego, trying not to think about being hungry, working in the heat, sore feet, containing excitement of whānau that are coming to watch, thinking about what whānau will think, working alongside each other and teaching what you know and have learned, protecting your ariki (if it was me again nope!, battle formations, remembering what side to go to or not, sparring, controlling your ihi, karo, pao, ngā ahae mezmerized whānau, excited tamrariki, kina, kina, kina!!
The journey leading up to the whakaturanga is always special but I was blown away by the efforts of my brothes and sisters. At one point of the whakaaturanga a whole heap of smoke was blowing over the atea as I looked over one of the kids had pulled a few of the big rākau out of the fire and they created a heap of smoke. I went over to Bon and said "Oi!! you were supposed to be looking after the fire!' he seemed to be in a somewhat trance, he steps out of his trance and says 'nah sis i'm the audience at the moment." At that moment I turned to the all the people watching and every single person was mesmerized with what they were seeing. It was such a cool sight to behold and made me so proud of all whānau.
