Learning Links Childcare

Matariki Celebrations

As part of our Matariki celebrations we are exploring each whetū and how this resonates with us at our Learning Links Childcare Centre and within our local community. Tamariki have been asked about a goal they would like to set for themselves or something they wish to achieve within the year, looking to Hiwa-i-te-rangi for support.

With our new garden boxes, we have used the stars of Matariki and Maramataka to guide us in our planting and harvesting cycles, sharing our abundance with whānau.

Recently in the Horowhenua, the weather has impacted many whānau members and their housing, whether this be flooding or the tornado. We are able to link this strong interest in the weather to the Stars of Matariki, we have also discovered many links between the ātua we know so well and the stars of Matariki.

We have invited whānau to join us one afternoon to share our Matariki Learning with them, tamariki’s mahi will be displayed around the room for whānau to explore. We will first have a mihi whakatau to welcome all our new whānau to Learning Links Horowhenua, followed by a blessing of our new outdoor environment with the support of Muāūpoko, our local iwi. Tamariki will then perform local waiata they have been learning and finally, we will wrap everything up with kai and a kapu tea.