Matariki at AUT a time to reflect and connect

Māori students and staff at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) are centering their Matariki celebration on reflection, reconnection, and mātauranga Māori, not commercialisation.

Matariki, the Māori new year, is a time to honour those who have passed, look ahead to the future, and gather with whānau.

For the AUT Māori Student Association (MSA), it’s about recognising cultural values and fostering community.

“Matariki is our Māori new year, it’s a time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the future,” MSA said.

“But most importantly, it's a time to remember our whānau who have passed on.”

AUT’s Pou Māori Centre is leading a week of events across the university’s three campuses.

Jana Nee (Te Rarawa), pou āwhina of the centre, says the focus is on quality time and authentic cultural learning.

“We’re not here to commercialise Matariki,” Nee said.

“We want students, Māori and non-Māori to understand that Matariki is about connection.

“[It’ about] connecting with others, with the environment, and with mātauranga Māori.”

One of the centre’s standout initiatives is its annual Matariki commission where a creative project that sees a student artist produce a series of nine posters, each representing one of the Matariki stars.

These artworks are displayed in the Pou Māori whānau space to prompt kōrero and aspirations.

"Each poster is about learning. We want our tauira to know what the stars stand for, and to reflect on what they hope for in the coming year,” Nee said.

“We pair this with workshops in traditional Māori arts and crafts, and wānanga about Māoriknowledge systems.”

AUT Māori Students Association is also playing a supporting role in the wider celebrations. Their goal is to help first-year students feel included and empowered.

“We’re proud of our first years getting involved with AUT Māori and Te Kāhui Tauira,” the MSA said.

“We encourage people by word of mouth. If someone comes into the whānau space, we make sure they know what’s going on.”

For Nee, the most meaningful part of Matariki is the chance to spend time with others in uplifting ways.

“Just being together like walking up Maungawhau at dawn to see the constellation, sharing kai, talking about our hopes for the year, that’s what I love,” she said.

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