C Company whare, Matariki, focus of novel fundraiser

A fundraiser for C Company Memorial House is happening on Friday with nine guest speakers sharing korero on Matariki or the 28 Māori battalion.

Sharing korero about the Māori new year Matariki, or the 28 Maori battalion kaupapa are the focus of an early morning parakuihi (breakfast) Matariki event tomorrow.

At the C Company Memorial House, starting at 6.45am, there will be a breakfast followed by karakia timatanga, mihimihi and overview of the ngā whetu kaupapa.

Speakers are scheduled to start at 7:30am.

The event is to applaud and honour Aotearoa New Zealand’s Matariki and raise funds for the 28 Maori Battalion whare.

“It’s a fun event based on the speed dating kaupapa,” said event organiser Tina Karaitiana. “We have nine wonderful speakers who are to give an oral presentation in the allotted time frame of nine minutes,” she said.

“It may prove a challenge as the kōrero has to be delivered in a nine-minute window, but I am confident that the line-up of speakers will meet the challenge,” she said.

The nine minutes and nine speakers represent the nine stars of Matariki.

They will cover three themes aligned either to the whare or Matariki. These are: an excerpt from Monty Soutar’s books Whitiki, Whiti, Whiti E, Ngā Tamatoa or Kāwai; an excerpt from Rangi Matamua’s Matariki: The Star of the Year or Matariki Around The World by Miriama Kamo and Rangi Matamua; or speakers to present their personal insight of Matariki celebration.

The speakers are Athena Emmerson Kapa, Mayor Rehette Stoltz, Audine Grace-Kutia, Zandria Taare, Jackie Akuhata-Brown, Vicki Briant, Moera Brown, Aubrey Ria and Mere Pohatu.

“Morehu Pewhairangi is supporting us with karakia and the mihimihi and his insight into one of the themes,” said Mrs Karaitiana.

“I am hoping that it becomes an annual fundraiser event for the whare and to celebrate Matariki.

“The trustees have been amazing and very supportive of the wee project.

“The speakers have embraced the challenge and did not hesitate to tautoko.”

There is a $10 entry fee. For catering and registration purposes please text Ingrid Collins 027 4408580 or Tina Karaitiana 027 2424222.

■ The public holiday for Matariki is on Friday, July 14.