Mānawatia a Matariki

In 2022, Aotearoa New Zealand will recognise Matariki as an official public holiday on June 24th, the first to recognise Te Ao Māori (the Māori world view) and one of the first re-introduced Indigenous celebrations in the world.

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Tourism New Zealand releases bespoke Matariki composition with Grammy Award-winning indigenous instrumentalist - Jerome Kavanagh

Auckland, New Zealand: This Friday, Aotearoa New Zealand will recognise Matariki as an official public holiday, the first to recognise Te Ao Māori (the Māori world view) and one of the first re-introduced Indigenous celebrations in the world.

 Key Information:

  • To celebrate the inaugural holiday, Tourism New Zealand will release a bespoke composition​ by Jerome Kavanagh – Ngā Taritari o Matariki (the Winds of Matariki)
  • Jerome Kavanagh is a Grammy-Award winning featured solo artist and internationally renowned Māori Taonga Pūoro [traditional indigenous instruments] musician.
  • Ngā Taritari o Matariki (the Winds of Matariki) composition calls on New Zealanders to gather, reconnect and reflect with whānau and loved ones.
  • The music will be released to local and international audiences on Spotify from Friday 24th June
  • Mātauranga Māori (ancestral knowledge and wisdom) is at the heart of celebrations of the Matariki public holiday, and it will be a time for:​
    • Remembrance – Honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki​
    • Celebrating the present – Gathering together to give thanks for what we have​
    • Looking to the future – Looking forward to the promise of a new year

 The composition welcomes the winds of Matariki and encourages New Zealanders to return home, reflect and reconnect with whānau and their loved ones.

 “When creating the song, I really wanted to honour the sounds of the wind and the idea of travelling back home to where you’re from,” says Jerome.

 The passing of wind through these traditional instruments in the practice demonstrates a connection to the environment, inspired by Tāwhirimātea [god of wind and weather].

 “The whole theme is around returning home to your whānau (family) and friends when you feel the change in seasonal winds. I wanted to create a piece of music that used only Taonga Puoro to help people rest, revive and create something that people all over the world could use.”

 “And for those that can’t get home this Matariki, I would love them to use this piece of music as an outlet to reflect, think of family, be transported home and look up to the stars feeling connected, as our ancestors once did.

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