Kia ora and ngā mihi to all locals and manuhiri (visitors) who attended events during the 2024 Te Anau Waitangi Festival. And a heartfelt thank you to all the performers, speakers, volunteers and hosts that partnered with us.
Waitangi Day in Fiordland is a time for kotahitanga (unity), whānau (family) and acknowledging our shared history as a nation.
The theme for the 2024 was 'Whiria te tangata - Weave the People together'.
Highlighting the successes of a community working together, local artist Claire Maley-Shaw has shared her take on the collaborative mahi toi project she worked on, resulting in the special wall hanging now on permanent display at Te Anau Community Library. Click here to read the full story.
Now we really need to hear your feedback! We want to know what you enjoyed, what you want to see more of and any new ideas for 2025.
Matariki in Fiordland 2024
As the days become shorter and the night sky darkens, communities across the motu eagerly anticipate the return of the Matariki (aka Pleiades) constellation. This is the third year we'll officially celebrate Māori New Year as a public holiday in Aotearoa and in 2024 it is set for Friday, 28 June.
Matariki is a time for reflection and communal engagement. It’s a moment to pause and express gratitude for the harvest of the past year while setting intentions for the year ahead. The night sky becomes a canvas for cultural expression, with stargazing events and celestial observations offering a unique blend of scientific fascination and spiritual connection.
If you want to find out more about the Matariki constellation and what each star represents, check out the Matariki resource written for the Fiordland community by Māori astronomer Victoria Campbell.
Mānawatia a Matariki!
"Matariki signifies a time of reflection, remembrance, celebration, and preparation."
Māori astronomer Victoria Campbell (Ngāi Tahu),
member of the Matariki Advisory Committee.
Te Anau Waitangi Charitable Trust creates opportunities for culturally significant days and seasons in Aotearoa, to be acknowledged in Fiordland and Māoritanga to be visible in the community.
Story of success
Six weeks was all it took for an Invercargill woman to attend a Waitangi Day waka ama display in Te Anau, to representing New Zealand in the sport.
To read the full story, check out the Stuff article by Che Baker on our NEWS page.