Ngā mihi matakuikui ki a Ruawharo Taumoepeau mōna i toa i tā mātou Whakataetae Tuhinga mō Matariki! Ngā mihi matakuikui ki a Ruawharo Taumoepeau mōna i toa i tā mātou Whakataetae Tuhinga mō Matariki!

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Ngā mihi matakuikui ki a Ruawharo Taumoepeau mōna i toa i tā mātou Whakataetae Tuhinga mō Matariki!Ngā mihi matakuikui ki a Ruawharo Taumoepeau mōna i toa i tā mātou Whakataetae Tuhinga mō Matariki!

Kia mōhio mai, ehara i te mea he māmā te whiriwhiri ko wai rā te whakaihuwaka. I runga i te mea neke atu i te 60 ngā tuhinga i tukuna mai, i ētitahia, i imērahia atu me te ātaahua o ia tuhinga! He kōrero whakamārama kei ia tuhinga mō tēnei mea te Matarikitanga ki ngā kaituhi taiohi nei mō rātou me Aotearoa. Whakamīharotia!
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Ko tā Ruawharo, he tuhi karakia mō te atapō e whakanui ai i a Matariki. Ki te pānui ā-waha āna kupu, pēnei i a au nei kia rima ngā wā, tēnā ka rongo i te rere tino Māori o āna kīanga me te tohutoro ki ngā atua, ki ngā tūpuna, ki te rewatanga o Matariki. Tuhi ana, tau ana!
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Nei anō a Toitoi te mihi ake nei ki a koutou e ngā kaituhi, he tuatahitanga mō ētehi ki te tuhi i te reo Māori. Ahakoa rā, he rawe te pānui atu. Ka nui rā te mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa!


Congratulations to Ruawharo Taumoepeau for winning our Matariki Writing Competition!
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To be clear, this was not an easy decision to choose an ultimate champion. Keeping in mind there were over 60 entries that were sent in, edited and responded to. What fabulous writing! There were insights into what Matariki means for these young writers themselves and for New Zealand. Amazing!
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Ruawharo has composed a predawn karakia that celebrates Matariki. If you read the words aloud, like I have done 5 times, you will hear a real Māori cadence of phrasing along with references to Māori deities, ancestors and the rising of Matariki. Written with excellence!
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Toitoi would like to acknowledge again you the writer, some of whom it was your first time writing in Māori, even so it was a pleasure reading them. Warm thanks to you all!
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Nāku me ngā mihi o Matariki manako nui,
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Nā Dr Darryn Joseph
Ētita Reo Māori, Ahonuku o Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University