E nga rau rangatira mā, e huihui mai nei, i tēnei ahiahi, tenei aku mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Nau mai haere mai ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tianara ki Whanganui-a-Tara.
I wish to specifically acknowledge Matua Joe McLeod, our renowned maramataka o nga hua o Papatuanuku, who along with our wonderful Government House chefs, Front of House and Programme teams have planned and prepared today’s kai and proceedings with such manaaki.
And to each of you, our honoured guests, thank you for entering the ballot to be part of this year’s Matariki celebrations at Government House in Wellington – congratulations on being the lucky few! This historic house is symbolic of our rich and evolving history as a nation – open to all – and we are delighted to welcome those who have come here today from across Aotearoa New Zealand.
First, it is my privilege to share a Matariki message from His Majesty King Charles:
E mihi ana ki Te Kāhui o Matariki.
This week, eyes across New Zealand will be raised to the winter skies, watching for the reappearance of Matariki, signalling Te Tau Hou Māori, the Māori New Year.
Known by many names to peoples across the world, the Matariki star cluster reminds us that the natural world is a connecting thread that draws us together, reaching across boundaries and cultures. This year’s Matariki theme, Matariki herenga waka – For everyone, encourages all New Zealanders to come together to embrace Matariki, to learn, to share and to celebrate together. As you enter this period of reflection, remembrance, connection and celebration, my wife and I send our warmest good wishes to you all.
Ka mahuta a Matariki i te pae, ka tukuna ō tātou tūmanako ki te tau hou.
When Matariki rises above the horizon, our aspirations rise to the year ahead.
As our first indigenous national celebration, Matariki is both an opportunity to honour our past, and create new customs for our future. I am heartened to see our increasingly diverse society embracing the Māori New Year across many communities and generations. I take particular joy in seeing the ways New Zealanders are developing their own annual traditions centred around values that underpin Matariki, of manaakitanga and kotahitanga – values I am so encouraged to see embodied and expressed across our communities in my travels as Governor-General.
Much like our own celebration today, many Matariki traditions have at their heart the preparing and sharing of kai. Through these acts, we receive more than just sustenance; we foster connection, honour the harvest, and convey gratitude to all whose hands brought it to our tables.
We must be mindful at such times when we acknowledge the seasons for planting, harvesting, and eating our bounty, that there are those, both in New Zealand and around the world, facing intense hardships. Food, shelter, and companionship should never be taken for granted. On that note, I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge those – including many of you here today – who commit themselves so wholly and selflessly to supporting others in need.
Finally, as Governor-General, I welcome you most warmly into my home and wish you all a wonderful afternoon here. In addition to this hāngī, our talented team has devised a unique culinary journey through the House for you all, inspired by mātauranga Māori, with each room and dish themed around the Matariki stars. Please enjoy the manaakitanga of the House and the company of your fellow guests.
Ma te atua e Manaaki ki a koutou katoa i te wa nei o Matariki.