Ready to go: Williamina Tauroa, Te Urupingao Muru and Taurikura Taute Taylor before the Ngaa Manu Korokii kapa haka group goes on stage at the Cambridge Town Hall. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The inaugural Matariki collaboration between Cambridge Town Hall Community Trust and Ngāti Koroki Kahukura attracted hundreds of visitors to the hall on Friday.
Aided by event-leveraging support of around $5000 from Waipā District Council, Matariki ki Te Oko Horoi featured kapa haka – performed by Ngaa Manu Korokii, Pīpī Paopao – two whānau-focused concerts by children’s singer and storyteller Rutene Spooner – and an open mic night.
Open mics are aimed at giving musicians a chance to perform live. Town Hall trust general manager Simon Brew said the open mic event went for over two hours with about 60 onsite throughout and “showcased some amazing local talent.”
Among the popular side events was a guess the correct number of stars in a jar (179), art activities in the hall and eateries on the piazza.
People came and went throughout the day and into the evening, he said.
“We had such a fun day and we look forward to many more Matariki celebrations to come.”
Meanwhile the Cambridge Model Engineering Society’s Leamington night-time trains was also a success on Friday with queues gathering before the 5pm start.
The organisers, seeing threatening black clouds out to the west, got in as many rides as they could before packing up just after 7.30pm. But a shortage of volunteer drivers prevented even more trips.
The train society have leased land at Leamington Domain for a miniature railway for more than a decade and the track was opened in December 2012.
The 200-300m long track loops around the domain. A recent addition was the Lions’ Den Tunnel.
Meanwhile Te Aroha Tauroa was on hand to help youngsters Daisy and Lily Thompson with some star craft as part of a Matariki inspired “locals day” at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari on Saturday. About 300 people took advantage of the opportunity to see the sites and hear the sounds of the sanctuary. Family activities were hosted in the new Manu Korokī Profile Group Education Centre.
All aboard: Allen Edwards rings the bell to set driver Warren Gauge on his way with the next train laden with passengers while queues of people wait patiently for another train. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
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- Ngaa Manu Korokii kapa haka group outside Cambridge Town Hall after their performance in Matariki ki Te Oko Horoi. Photos: Mary Anne Gill.
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- Key jobs: Birthday boy Eli Taia, 9, and Timothy Law, 8, both from Cambridge were tasked with lifting trains back onto the tracks. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
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- Watching on: Maraea Tauroa, 12, broke her right leg roller skating but that did not stop her participating in the Ngaa Manu Korokii kapa haka, until it got too much and she had a rest. “We needed her strong voice,” another member said.
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- Leamington Trains – Matariki. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
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- Pīpī Paopao with storyteller Rutene Spooner during Matariki ki Te Oko Horoi at the Town Hall. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
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- Criss-cross: Driver Warren Gauge takes passenger through the tracks with the historic Leamington Band Rotunda in the background. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
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- Matariki ki Te Oko Horoi in Cambridge Town Hall. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
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- Queues forming: By 5pm there were plenty waiting to board the miniature trains at Leamington Domain. Photo Mary Anne Gill.
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- Ngaa Manu Korokii kapa haka group during their performance at Cambridge Town Hall in Matariki ki Te Oko Horoi. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
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- Key jobs: Birthday boy Eli Taia, 9, and Timothy Law, 8, both from Cambridge were tasked with lifting trains back onto the tracks. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
