Last night at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted the Diplomatic Corps for a very special Matariki Dinner, to mark the first time that New Zealand has observed Matariki as a public holiday. The mid-winter reappearance of the Matariki star cluster signals the start of the Māori New Year, and with it, a period of remembrance, reflection, and celebration.
‘I encourage you all to look up into the early morning sky, as our ancestors did, and to see those stars with that same sense of wonder and faith.’
Mānawatia a Matariki!
You can see more images from the event here, and read Dame Cindy's speech here.