Matariki Festival
This weekend, gather with whānau and friends to enjoy a range of exciting events across Tāmaki Makaurau. Here’s what’s on offer:
Te Hui Ahurei o Matariki – Matariki Festival Day
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Bring the whole whānau for a day full of culture and creativity at Auckland Botanic Gardens this Friday from 10am. Enjoy kapa haka, waiata, carving demonstrations, raranga activations, poi making and much more. A wide range of exciting and fun activities and experiences for everyone.
Matariki ki te Maunga
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Welcome Matariki rising in the sky with karakia on Pukekohe Hill from 6am this Friday. After the ceremony, head to Ngaa Hau e Whā Marae for a warm breakfast and entertainment. A beautiful way to start the day in reflection and connection.
Wheke Fortress
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Step into the Wheke Fortress this Pipiri and gather under the stars for an evening of music, mātauranga, kai, and celebration with community and whānau.
Matariki Evening Lights
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Soak up the festive atmosphere with music, fire pits, delicious kai, and good company at Silo Park’s Matariki Evening Lights this Saturday. A perfect winter’s evening by the waterfront.
For more Matariki Festival events, visit Matariki Festival Website.
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Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Christmas gifts stolen from parked car prompts warning over holiday break-ins
An Auckland man whose Christmas presents were stolen from his car on a quiet street is warning others not to repeat his mistake.
Police and the AA say opportunistic thieves are breaking into cars more frequently during the Christmas period.
Jeremy Rees, an RNZ staff member in Auckland, had packed his car full of gifts when he decided to visit a friend.
“Everyone had handed over presents and we had a couple of bags full of presents sitting in the back of the car,” he said.
“I decided it would be great to go around and see a friend, drop off some presents and say hello. My wife said to me, ‘Are you sure we should be taking this car?’ I said, ‘I’m sure it’ll be fine’.
“I think it was only 20 minutes outside their house, a very quiet street. It was light [outside]. We came out and my wife pointed out that someone had smashed the rear window, reached in and grabbed the presents, and headed away.
“It was a shock. It was a shock partly because of the Christmas presents and partly because my wife had been telling me, ‘Don’t do that’.”
AA Insurance head of motor claims Beau Paparoa said roadside staff were responding to smashed windows more often.
“We definitely see car break-ins starting to occur a lot more around this time of year. We’re often hearing from customers and some of our roadside teams that there’s definitely a bit more opportunistic theft happening,” he said.
“We’re putting that down to it being a busy time of year. Everyone’s out doing their Christmas shopping and there’s much more presence of gifts and valuables being visible in the car.”
He encouraged people to be careful and make sure valuables were hidden from view.
“In terms of any valuables, if you’ve done some Christmas shopping, or if generally you’ve got valuables in your car, try [to] keep them locked away or out of sight – in your boot if you can,” he said.
“Where you’re parking is possibly a good thing to think about. If you can afford to, don’t park on the street, but if you have to park on-street, make sure you park in well-lit areas.”
Police said it was not uncommon for Christmas presents to be stolen.
“The key is to remove any opportunity. This includes taking valuables or documents out of vehicles wherever possible,” a spokesperson said.
Rees said he wished he had followed that advice.
“I feel a bit stupid, to be absolutely honest. I read all of the things from police saying ‘don’t do this, don’t pack your car, don’t just leave it on the street’, and I did exactly the opposite and I paid the price.”
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