Community encouraged to make Matariki crafts for upcoming parade

The Matariki All Stars Parade craft section at the Rotorua Night Market last week. Photo/Supplied

The community is being encouraged to take some creative time out and make crafts to help this year's Matariki Parade be bright and colourful.

The Matariki All Stars Lantern Parade is being held on Friday June 16 from 6.30pm to 7pm, starting at the Government Gardens.

Workshops are being held until June 14 where members of the public can make lanterns, masks and hats to take away and use in the parade.

Ally Rogers, creative director of the parade, says the number of people attending the craft workshops so far has been steady, but not as busy as previous years.

She is hoping in the next two weeks people will get excited and go along to make items such as lanterns.

Ally is also hoping people will dress up for the parade and, "really get into the spirit of it".

"They can get really excited about dressing up and lighting themselves up with battery powered lights."

She says there is also a small team making giant puppets and lanterns.

Ally says the parade is about coming together as a community, and they were asking people to connect with and represent one of the stars in the constellation.

The parade is taking place the night before the British and Irish Lions take on the Maori All Blacks, so there will be a lot of tourists in town, making the parade a great way to support the Maori All Blacks and welcome the tourists, she says.

Ally says there will be community groups representing each one of the nine stars.

This includes the Sulphur City Steam Rollers, who are going to wear lights and do some fancy skating, she says.

She says the workshops are a fun and creative activity to do - "it's great for you to have some creative downtime and enjoy yourself".

Ally says the parade is a wonderful way to celebrate each other as a community and it will be like a party, with stilt walkers and face painting.

There will be a low-level firework display at the end of the parade.

She says the parade is essentially a walking art exhibition and it is great to be able to show off your art to other people.

"How often can you dress up outrageously and parade through the streets?"

The workshops are free to attend and any one is welcome. For a list of dates and times visit the Matariki All Stars Parade Facebook page.

Ally says they are also in need of people who can do a skill or talent, such as juggling or dance, to represent stars in the parade, as well as volunteers for setting things up.

If you are interested contact Ally on (027) 921 8675.