Kite Day gives all ages a lift

The Matariki Kite Day held at Fergusson Park in Matua on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

It is not every day you can spot a flying stingray or large body parts floating high above your head.

But a frosty Saturday morning made for clear blue skies and perfect kite-flying conditions, with one parent describing it as "the most beautiful place on Earth".

Matariki Kite Day brought keen kite flyers of all ages to Matua's Fergusson Park at the weekend in celebration of the Maori New Year.

About 40 kites of different colours and objects such as teddy bears, octopi, dragons and birds had enough wind to float high above those looking on.

Bruce Reid and his 7-year-old daughter, Charlotte, visited the display twice and took their own colourful kite to join the rest.

"It was really, really fun," Charlotte said.

"There was beautiful, blue sky and the sun was shining."

Mr Reid's family lived in Matua and were lucky enough to spot the kites from home.

"There was a giant squid and stingray, some of these kites are gigantic," Mr Reid said.

"It was a perfect day, there was a nice gentle breeze and those kites were so colourful against the blue sky and it felt like it was the most beautiful place on Earth really, it was a lovely spot."

Bernie Johnson, Tauranga Matariki event organiser and Tauranga Library librarian was overwhelmed with the volume of people who showed their support for the first-time event.

"There [were] some hard-case ones up in the air," Ms Johnson said.

"It's been a massive day for it and they reckon I should get a Lotto ticket after this."

Ms Johnson explained the connection between kite flying and Matariki reached back to Maori ancestors who believed flying traditional objects similar to kites connected them to the Maori gods.

"Traditional Maori flew kites on the first day of Matariki. Not only to celebrate the arrival of the Maori New Year but to also connect "from the Earth to the heavens".

The New Zealand Flyers Association also took part in the event, which brought kite enthusiasts from around the North Island to spend a day in the Bay.

Ms Johnson hoped to see the successful event return for next year's celebrations.