Matariki All Stars Parade to celebrate Rotorua

Maria Marshall (left), Kelly Osborne and Ally Rogers with some of the pieces made at the Matariki All Stars Parade workshops. Photo/Ben Fraser

Diversity and the Rotorua community will be celebrated at the Matariki All Stars Parade, with creative director Ally Rogers encouraging people to get involved.

Free workshops are being held to make costumes and props to use in the community event, to be held on Friday, June 16, the night before the British and Irish Lions play the Maori All Blacks at Rotorua International Stadium.

This year Matariki, the Maori New Year, is due to begin on June 25.

Ms Rogers said the council-run parade was a two-part gift to the community.

The first part was the free workshops where facilitator Maria Marshall said they would help make participants' ideas come to fruition.

"You don't need to know art or how to make lanterns to come along."

Several workshops have already taken place, with giant lanterns and puppets being made.

The second part was celebrating Matariki as a community, and celebrating the story of the constellations.

"According to Glenys [Courtney-Strachan's] research there are nine stars, each with its own personality and characteristics," Ms Rogers said.

"[The event] is about building friendships, being proud and celebrating our unique Rotorua culture."

Ms Rogers encouraged anyone with a creative bend, be they jugglers or unicyclists, to join the street parade.

"Anyone can come take part, help make a costume, we want everyone to bring what they can ... we would love many people to be part of the parade."

Rotorua Lakes Council sales and marketing co-ordinator Kelly Osborne said the team hoped the parade would become a yearly celebration.

Mrs Osborne said the parade would start at the Arts Village and end at the Village Green where there would be a fireworks display and entertainment.

The council's events manager Martin Croft said the event would be a "neat night".

"We knew the Lions were coming and we looked at what we could do to engage the public and showcase the city."

Updates and information on workshops and the parade can be found on the Matariki All Stars Parade Facebook page.