To celebrate the Māori New Year, Morrinsville School have created pieces of artwork that reflect the starts of Matariki and their significance.

The stars of Matariki by Morrinsville School. 28 June – 21 July. Community Gallery.

“Mānawatia a Matariki (to celebrate the Māori New Year), Te Kura ō Morenawhira (Morrinsville School) have created pieces of artwork that reflect the starts of Matariki and their significance in Te Ao Māori.

Each class has chosen a star/kaitiaki that has its own whakapapa, meaning and representation. Each akomanga (class) then had a goal to portray their chosen star through mahi toi (the production of art). Some mahi toi have been created individually and some  collaboratively as a whole class.

The stars/kaitiaki we have incorporated within our display are Matariki, Waitī, Waitā, Waipunārangi, Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi, Ururangi, Pōhutukawa, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi and Tangotango”

Nicole Healey, head of the art department at the Morrinsville School, explains “Our art is a Matariki focus where each class is representing one star from the Matariki cluster, and one class represents Tangotango the guardian of the stars. Every class has between 18-28 children who will all have art to be displayed. We have 10 classrooms providing art to the exhibition with an age range from 5 years old to 13 years old. there will be 220 children in total participating in the art exhibition. Some classrooms will have a piece of art from each child, and some have worked on a collaborative classroom piece”.

About the Morrinsville School

Te kura ō Morenawhira is a primary school in Morrisville made up of 220 children. Our kura has 10 wonderful classrooms with children from new entrant to year 8. We strive to uphold our values Hiranga (Resilience) , Kawanga (Responsibility), Whakaute (Respect) and Manaakitanga/Aroha (Kindness) in our everyday learning and teaching journey. Our kura is not only a school but a whānau and we nurture and care about each individual who comes through our gates. We are so excited to be displaying our Matariki Art in the Morrinsville Art Gallery again.