Feast Matariki 2021 Update - May

While the weather’s been cooling down, things are heating up for us here at Eat New Zealand in preparation for the Matariki season, and Feast Matariki. It always excites me to think we have the opportunity to celebrate something that is uniquely Aotearoa (while acknowledging our Pacific whānau as well). It’s been a big personal journey for me to understand how we can uplift and celebrate this time of year without appropriating another culture. I suspect I’m not alone thinking about this. We’ve all been asked to make Matariki a national celebration by acknowledging the public holiday next year, but it’s important this is Māori led. I’m so grateful for some amazing humans who’ve helped my understanding and look forward to working in partnership with them so we can signal to our communities and the world that we have something special to say, and a unique food place to stand as Aotearoa. If you’re also on a journey of understanding about Matariki, I’d highly recommend starting with Professor Rangi Matamua and his resources.

You can find them here; https://livingbythestars.co.nz/ Remember if you have a Matariki event planned that includes food, make sure you tell us so we can add it to our list of events!

I want to help people Feast this Matariki, how do I do that?

We know our hospitality businesses are doing it tough, particularly with a shortage of staff, but we also know you love spending time helping people feel good and celebrating our amazing food and drink with massive dollops of Manaaki. This year for Feast Matariki we are encouraging everyone to spend their effort supporting and uplifting Māori food, chefs, hospitality, producers, fishers and food businesses. Ok, give me some ways to do this….

• Seek out and use ingredients provided by Māori businesses. We’re working on a list to help you with that, but let us know if you have names to share as well.
• Make connection with your local iwi, work out what they are doing and try support their Matariki efforts. Remember, they don’t owe you understanding or time, but might be up for sharing both if you’re prepared to roll your sleeves up and offer some support, resources or help.
• Collab an event with a young Māori chef, food producer, artist or story-teller.
• Use your efforts to support local charities, environmental groups and anyone who might need your help at this time of year. Understand that helping others increases how good you feel about yourself and the world around you.
• Pull your whānau and/or community together around a big table, tell stories, sing songs, laugh, marvel at the incredible part of the world find ourselves in, feast.

Tell us about your Feast Matariki event plans!

What Aotea can teach us all...

Harvest by our Kaitaki. #EatNZ

Southland's Longwood Loop

Thank you to our Supporters