Mānawatia a Matariki

My Dear Princess and Dear Fellow,

There has been a lot of excitement in Aotearoa about the introduction of the new public holiday of Matariki. 

I've been aware of it the whole time I've been here. It refers to the rising of a cluster of stars known as the Pleiades in the UK but Matariki here. They appear in mid-winter and indicate the start of the new year.  

The Labour government has this year instituted it as an official holiday. There has been a real outpouring of emotion about this all around me. There are those - let us call a spade a spade and refer to them as "complete effing w*nkers" - who opposed the move. 

But for the most part, people are happy and proud. And I need to tell you something I didn't fully appreciate - and that is how Māori and Pacific Island cultures do put a different skew on life here. 

I would actually say it's almost like the difference between living in England and living in Scotland. It just feels like a more accepting, friendlier culture. The idea that family is bigger than people you're related to and that "your people" are the people around you that you love. 

I'm sounding very woolly and floofy and woo-woo. I know. But honestly there IS a difference. Or. It's more like people want there to be a difference and we are getting there.

Shenée wrote a little essay about it for a magazine here which I will paste in at the end of today's entry. And she's really not alone in how she feels. 

I am feeling quite stirred myself. Even as a foreigner.

Shenée also arranged a day at hers for whoever could make it. Unfortunately because of COVID and other reasons, the only people who could make it were me, Caro, Mo (briefly), Ellie, AJ and their children Aubrey and Casey. 

But that was enough. It was a lovely, family, Xmassy day. It really did feel like a special occasion. Craig made a huge roast with all the fixings and Shenée had us playing silly games. My favourite was guess the tune as played on a kazoo. In one of today's extras you see Shenée giving a spirited rendition of, "Respect" by Aretha Franklin.

Mo had to leave to spend the rest of the day with his folks. And Ellie and family then left because children and naps and all of that. We were sorry to see them go - they really are just lovely. Aubrey is possibly the happiest little two year old I've ever seen and she spent the day laughing and running around. 

But in the end it was just the four of us as usual. Shenée, Craig, me and Caro. Craig plated up some cheesecake and used his kitchen dispensers to make beautiful patterns with mango and raspberry jus. 

When Caro asked for a second piece, I used the same dispenser to draw a willy. See today's main blip. We obviously thought this was hilarious. We are a sophisticated crowd. I believe we also covered the subject of farting and other names for fannies. 

I don't know if we spent time meditating on the true meaning of Matariki. My excuse is that I am new at it. So I didn't really dwell on letting go of loved ones from whom I'm separated. Or appreciating the people in my life. Or feeling connected to my new surroundings.   

Well, maybe I did a little, courtesy of Shenée.

She gave me a lovely present. A picture of a kōtare (kingfisher) that she had drawn especially for me (again, in the extras). 

She always makes me feel so valued. Or maybe it's the magic of Matariki. 

Mānawatia a Matariki koutou.

S.

Shenée on Matariki
I'm an English speaking white person born in South Africa in 1985, growing up in apartheid. Legislative racism fuelled the economy. I have been living in New Zealand since 1994, another colonised country with pervasive racism. Over the years I have been atoning and grieving for what has happened to both of my home countries. I am also an atheist.

Combined, there are not many holidays or occasions that allow people to come together on neutral terms. Nearly all public holidays are contentious; to celebrate an English Queen that colonised the country or recognising one religion out of 10,000 - Christianity. The New Year cycle is based on the Northern Hemisphere where it is winter and we are obliged to pretend there is snow and jingle bells in the middle of summer. It's ridiculous! 

Matariki is the equivalent in the Southern Hemisphere. There is no religion. We are not pretending it's summer. It's a winter holiday, in winter with people we love who come from different countries with different religions or none at all. The date demarcation is based on science - the Matraiki stars, not religious beliefs. This is the best thing that has happened to this country in a long, long time. 

So this Friday, we are celebrating the friendships we have forged over the years - our own whānau. The world is a disconnected place and we can often feel alone without family nearby.

Being together with people we care about is what matters. Let's embrace it and bring our diversity together. I want to be a part of the Māori culture, the New Zealand culture - I do not want to be apart again.