Many Whangarei school children got to celebrate Matariki at Pehiaweri marae yesterday.
The new year festival, a collaboration between Northtec and Pehiaweri marae, saw students weaving flax, playing kio-rahi, planting native trees and sowing seeds.
Glenbervie School's kapa haka group, Matanga Ropu, (pictured) performed before everyone sat down to eatkai grown in the marae's garden.
Northtec Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) programme students spent six months preparing for the day as one of their final assignments.
A large earth oven built by Northtec Otiria SRD tutor Grant Steven and his students provided more than 30 loaves of fresh bread.
Northtec horticulture tutor Liz Akehurst said the main focus was on the marae and celebrating Maori New Year but being able to showcase her students' work was a bonus.
"It's about coming together and sharing food and planting, celebrating the end of a year and looking forward to a new one.
"I'm rapt with how the day went. If the kids have smiles on their faces and we go home exhausted we have done the right thing."
Pehiaweri marae chairperson Les Wakefield said the day was a great success and the marae will continue to have Matariki festivals to celebrate the beginning of a new year.
