Let there be light: Matariki festival returns to Oromahoe

Oromahoe School teachers “Whaea Ange” Brewer and “Whaea Anna” Leigh ready a flying lantern for take-off. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A record turnout braved the odd shower at Oromahoe School as visitors joined students, staff and parents at one of the Mid North’s most popular midwinter celebrations on Saturday evening. The annual Matariki Light Festival featured the school’s famous lantern trail, a glow-in-the-dark tunnel telling the story of Kupe versus Te Wheke (the octopus), live music, kids’ performances, costumes, wandering minstrels, fire poi, and plenty of warming kai. This year’s proceeds will pay for kapa haka group uniforms. Oromahoe School is just off SH10 about 12km south of Kerikeri.

Oromahoe School students welcome festival-goers with a waiata. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Oromahoe School band Mellomaniacs, from left, Taylor Bergman, 12, Zara Field, 12, Coralie Byworth, 11, CJ Stott, 11, and Jacinta-Lee Anahera-Grace, 11. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Five-year-old Micah Wilson is transformed into a butterfly. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Hanna Cleghorn of Oromahoe at work at the lantern stall. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Little princess Maddison Vesey, 6, chooses a lantern. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Rosie Ritchie, 5, of Ōhaeawai, picks out a lantern. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Oromahoe School teacher Joseph Lickness shows off his tutu. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Seven-year-olds Lucy Peach, left, and Avy Bell warm up by a brazier. Photo / Peter de Graaf

If there was a prize for best costume it surely would have gone to 9-year-old extra-terrestrial Hanna Carlyon. Photo / Peter de Graaf

We have lift-off: Oromahoe School teachers “Whaea Ange” Brewer and “Whaea Anna” Leigh release a flying lantern. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Fifteen-year-old Grace Gundry of Kerikeri checks out the giant octopus in the Kupe vs Te Wheke light tunnel. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Eight-year-old Poppy O’Brien spreads her illuminated wings. Photo / Peter de Graaf