Puanganui o te Waka: The Waka of Puanga
Available: 14 June – 12 October 2025
Year level: Suitable for all year levels
Duration: 90 mins
Celebrate Puanga/Matariki with He Tukutuku Auahatanga: Maureen Lander with Community Exhibition!
How is Puanga uniquely celebrated in Taranaki?
How does the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar) connect with the rhythms of human life?
What role does traditional Māori astronomy play in Māori navigation and exploration?
We are delighted to invite you and your students to celebrate Puanga with the He Tukutuku Auahatanga: Maureen Lander with Community ( add link ) exhibition. This captivating showcase by Dr. Maureen Lander MNZM (Ngāpuhi, Te Hikutū) features four large-scale fibre installations, created in collaboration with talented weavers, tamariki, and community members.
Interactive Learning Experiences: Students are invited to become collaborators by making whetū (stars) to gift to and activate the Star Waka installation in a gesture of reciprocity and the binding together of our spiritual and physical selves.
This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for students to engage with Māori culture, learn about important cultural values, and participate in a meaningful community project. We hope you will join us in this celebration and bring your students to experience the richness of Puanga.
At school
- Explore the meaning of patterns: Explore the patterns such as papakingaro, pātikitiki, karu atua
Curriculum Links
- Cultural Diversity: Promotes understanding and appreciation of Māori culture.
- Treaty of Waitangi: Supports honouring the Treaty of Waitangi in teaching and learning.
Broader connections
Find out more about how Puanga is celebrated in Taranaki Puanga - Ngā Hua o te Hau Hou Māori