ONE NEWS CAPTIONS BY JOHN LING AND RICHARD EDMUNDS. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013 DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF SEVEN SHARP, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. IT'S MATARIKI. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? WELL, IT TURNS OUT PROBABLY A BIT MORE THAN YOU'D THINK. PEOPLE HAVE SAID, 'OH, WHAT A LOT OF HOGWASH.' BUT THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ARE KNOWN THROUGH ALL CULTURES. I MEAN, FARMERS WILL TELL YOU: RED SKY AT MORN ` SHEPHERDS MOURN; RED SKY AT NIGHT ` SHEPHERDS DELIGHT. SO WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH SOMETHING THAT'S UNIQUELY 'US' AND ASK WHY ISN'T IT A PUBLIC HOLIDAY. AND AS THE MATARIKI STARS RISE, AN EVEN OLDER STAR FALLS. PETER DUNNE MAY BE DOWN, BUT WITH OUR HELP, HE MIGHT NOT QUITE BE OUT. OH, DOES IT COST $5? OH, YEAH, IT COSTS $5. WHO GIVES`? THEY` HE GIVES ME $5? NO, YOU GIVE HIM $5. (LAUGHS) MY GOODNESS. WE'RE CELEBRATING THE START OF MATARIKI. THIS IS SEVEN SHARP. WELCOME BACK, JESSE. Thanks for all the support. Did you choose those flowers? I did.� Introduce your new baby ` Daisy. We have a lot coming up tonight ` from food../ Yes. Anne Thorpe.� Music. The reason for this is that unlike other celebrations like Halloween or Guy Fawkes night, Matariki is uniquely New Zealand. MICHAEL HOLLAND HAS MORE. BRIGHT MUSIC CAN YOU SEE MATARIKI? MUSIC CONTINUES RIGHT NEXT TO MARS IS...? RIGHT THERE. MATARIKI. AS SURE AS THE SUN AND THE MOON, SO THERE IS MATARIKI ` ONCE MATARIKI COMES UP, STRAIGHT AFTER, WHO COMES UP? SUN. YEAH. AND MAKES IT ALL BRIGHT. AND IT MAKES IT ALL BRIGHT. SEVEN STARS RISING IN THE DAWN SKY. MATARIKI BEING ONE OF THEM, THEN THERE'S WAITI, WAITA, TUPU-A-NUKU, TUPU-A-RANGI, URURANGI AND WAIPUNA-A-RANGI. TRADITIONAL WIND INSTRUMENT BLOWS SEVEN STARS THAT FORETELL THE ENVIRONMENTAL JOYS AND HARDSHIPS OF THE YEAR TO COME. WHEN MATARIKI RISES IN MID-WINTER, MAORI BELIEVE THE SUN HAS GONE ON ITS JOURNEY AS FAR NORTH AS IT GOES. AND IT'S` MATARIKI GOES TO COLLECT THE SUN AND TELL HIM IT'S TIME TO COME BACK AND BRING THE WARMTH. EACH OF THESE STARS HAS A MESSAGE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR FOR A PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THE HARVEST. SO TUPUA-A-NUKU TALKS ABOUT THE FOOD GROWN IN THE GROUND; TUPU-A-RANGI TALKS ABOUT THE FOOD THAT COMES OUT OF THE SKY, LIKE THE BIRDS; WAITI IS FRESH WATER; WAITA IS SALT WATER. WHEN I SAW MATARIKI THIS MORNING, IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR TO DO FISHING. YOU WANT TO DO FISHING? YEP. OUR ANCESTORS WOULD WATCH AND WAIT FOR MATARIKI TO RISE. THEY WOULD READ THE SIGNS AND BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THE YEAR. CATCH A SNAPPER... A SNAPPER? ...SO I CAN EAT IT BY MYSELF. (LAUGHS) I LOVE SNAPPER. YOU LOVE SNAPPER? GOOD GIRL. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO NZERS WHO ARE BLISSFULLY UNAWARE? I WOULD SAY THAT MATARIKI IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A NATION TO CELEBRATE A CERTAIN UNIQUE COMPONENT OF WHAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK TRANSCENDS ALL OF THE MORE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF RACE RELATIONS. THERE MIGHT BE, THOUGH, A FEELING AMONG THE OLD PEOPLE TO KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES? I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE PRINCIPLE THAT ANY CULTURE THAT ISOLATES ITSELF FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD ACTUALLY SPEEDS UP ITS DECLINE AND ITS` AND ULTIMATELY ITS DEATH. THAT SAID, HE WARNS THAT AS MATARIKI GROWS THROUGH FESTIVALS AND THE INEVITABLE COMMERCIALISATION, SO IT MUST RETAIN ITS MANA. I WOULD DEFINITELY HATE TO SEE MATARIKI COMMERCIALISED TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL COMPONENT AND NOT ABOUT ITS TRADITIONS. SO, IN ESSENCE, EMBRACE AND ENJOY? EMBRACE AND ENJOY, AND I THINK SHARE. AND IT IS A TIME TO SHARE,... CELEBRATE. BRIGHT MUSIC HERE IT IS. AND OF COURSE TO GO FISHING. AFTER ALL, IT'S WRITTEN IN THE HEAVENS. THE BRIGHT STARS TOLD ME IT'S GOING TO BE AN AVERAGE YEAR, I THINK, FOR PLANTING AND FOR CATCHING BIRDS. So that's the rundown. We want to point out this is for all New Zealanders, not just Maori. Everybody can get involved in this. A lot of Maori didn't necessarily grow up in the Matariki tradition. WAIRERE ITI. TUHOE. FAMOUS MAORI FAMILY. I had an Australian mother, so that was part of it. I didn't understand what Matariki was about. It's going through somewhat of a regeneration, and largely through music, which is where you are connected. Maori culture is predominately about performing arts. there has been a resurgence of festivals. Here in Auckland, we have something coming up at the end of June ` matariki festival. There will be music and performing arts is a stage performance. There is also performing arts at the West Coast beaches. The mean personally, I love seeing The cultural diversity coming out at this time of year. There is the Matariki tour. It's not just about music. There is a list on our website about things happening around Matariki. WE'RE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON MATARIKI. SO, IN THE SPIRIT OF EARNEST 7 O'CLOCK PROGRAMMES FUNDRAISING ON POPULAR ISSUES, WE'VE FUNDRAISED FOR PETER. I'M JUST CALLING TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING WITH THE, UH, MEMBERSHIP OF THE PARTY. Want to get him more members. Do you want to sign up? IT WASN'T EASY TO SIGN UP THE 500 MEMBERS UNITED FUTURE NEEDS. I'M A BIT BUSY AT THE MOMENT NOW. HE GIVES ME $5? NO, YOU GIVE HIM $5! BUT ALL IT TAKES IS A LITTLE TIME. OH, YOU OVERPAID. PETER DUNNE'S HELPED ME A LOT, I TELL YOU. UM, NOTHING BAD, I JUST` NOTHING BAD! NOTHING BAD. IT'S PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME ANYONE'S FELT COMPELLED TO MAKE THAT DISCLAIMER ABOUT PETER DUNNE. I DUNNO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD THESE DAYS. YEAH, DISCOMBOBULATING WHEN YOU REALISE EVEN MR SENSIBLE ISN'T SENSIBLE. WE SHOULD'VE SEEN THE SIGNS. EVEN THAT TIME A DECADE AGO WHEN HE PACKED A TANTY ON TV. BUT WHEN YOU COULDN'T EVEN REMEMBER US IN YOUR INTRODUCTION TONIGHT, YOU'VE GOT A BIT OF APOLOGISING TO DO. OR EVEN FURTHER BACK WHEN HE STARTED HIS PARTY-HOPPING. APPARENTLY THAT APPARENTLY WOULDN'T BE TOLERATED IN EUROPE. HITLER. YOU WOULD BE KILLED STRAIGHT AWAY. YEAH, KILLED. MORE SPECIFICALLY SHOT. YA. WE DON'T CONDONE THAT. BUT IF ANYTHING'S SHOT, IT'S THE 'MR SENSIBLE' CHARACTER. AND WE DON'T THINK HE'LL HAVE TO WAVE GOODBYE TO HIS PARTY. WE GOT FIVE NEW MEMBERS! SO, WE'VE HANDED OVER THE FIVE PARTY MEMBERS THAT WE'VE MANAGED TO COLLECT. THERE WAS A WOMAN UP THERE WHO WAS QUITE GRATEFUL. SHE SAID THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND NOW WE'VE JUST GOT TO WAIT TO FIND OUT FROM UNITED FUTURE IF THEY'VE GOT ENOUGH. Heather's lovely with her good deeds. STICK WITH US. AFTER THE BREAK ` A TINY IWI RISING FROM THE ASHES ` IN EVERY SENSE ` ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TARAWERA ERUPTIONS. AND MORE FROM THIS WOMAN. BAND PLAYS BAND PLAYS you have taken Maori music to the wider world. First of all, with the tribe hunters, what does Matariki mean to you? I didn't grow up knowing about Matariki. I did a Facebook search and a lot of people didn't. I think it's fantastic. The opportunity to celebrate. We need is in the middle of winter. It goes on for a whole month. The Auckland Council has got 31 days of celebrations, concert and things. You're at Muriwai beach. We've got a whole bunch of things planned. We are going to learn about Matariki means. Where are you heading next? I'm going to the Arctic. The indigenous people there are the hosts of the big indigenous festival there. IN 1886 MT TARAWERA IN ROTORUA ERUPTED, OBLITERATING SURROUNDING VILLAGES. THE IWI WIPED OUT WAS TUHOURANGI. 127 YEARS AND A TREATY SETTLEMENT LATER, THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR THE IWI WELCOME, SEVEN SHARP, TO TUHOURANGI COUNTRY. WELCOME TO TUHOURANGI COUNTRY. WELCOME TO TUHOURANGI COUNTRY. WELL, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TUHOURANGI COUNTRY IS, THEN YOU'D BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT THEY WERE THE DONALD TRUMPS OF THE 19TH CENTURY. WELL, OUR TU WHENUA CAME OUT OF THE TARAWERA ASHES, SO WE CAN DEFINITELY COME OUT IN THE RAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST FESTIVAL SINCE THE ERUPTION DESTROYED THE BUSINESSES OF NZ'S TOURISM PIONEERS. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THIS? > UM, PROBABLY GOING TO GO FOR A FEED. YEAH, INDEED. FEED. AND` WHAT SORT OF KAI? LIKE A HANGI OR` CUPCAKES AND THAT STUFF. AND LOLLIES. BUT BEFORE THEY HAVE A FEED, THEY HAVE TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF THEIR PEOPLE. ALL SING MAORI WAIATA HOW DO YOU FEEL? VERY PROUD OF OURSELVES. ALL THE WHANAU. AWESOME TO SEE EVERYONE COME OUT IN THE RAIN. LIKE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S RAINING, TO SEE HOW DEDICATED THEY STILL ARE TO PERFORMING. YEAH, THAT'S AWESOME TO SEE. WHO'S FAMOUS FROM TUHOURANGI THAT YOU KNOW OF? TAMATI COFFEY. UM, MIRIAMA KAMO? WHO? MIRIAMA SMITH. ANOTHER FAMOUS TUHOURANGI IS STACEY MORRISON'S GRANDMOTHER, KAA DANIELS. IT BROUGHT JOY TO ME, TO MY HEART, TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO SEE THIS. THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME. NOT EVEN THE RAIN COULD KEEP AWAY THE DESCENDANTS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED THE MT TARAWERA ERUPTION 127 YEARS AGO. AS COMMEMORATIONS TURN INTO CELEBRATIONS, WHAT'S IN STORE FOR TUHOURANGI? EVERYONE HAS TALENTS, ESPECIALLY THE MAORI PEOPLE. THEY'RE REALLY ENTREPRE... NUERIAL. HOW DO YOU SAY THAT WORD? ENTREPRENEURIAL. YES. THAT'S IT. KA PAI. KA PAI. THANK YOU. > You had ancestors who were in the eruption and survived. Yes. It's very special. Lovely to see Auntie Kaa talking there. MORE TO COME AFTER THE BREAK ` NO FESTIVAL WITHOUT FOOD. ANN THORPE WITH MATARIKI MUNCHIES. Welcome back to 7 sharp, where we're celebrating Matariki in this beautiful outdoors studio TV CHEF ANNE THORP. SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF KAI ORA. What have you prepared? This is one of the dishes of the seven sisters. Tonight I have twiced cooked mutton bird. What do you think about Matariki? Matariki is but star gazing. Matariki is about creating everything, new things, Everyday, ordinary things ` making it special. You are doing a big Matariki feast for the Auckland Council. You are basically putting each of the Maori stars with some food. Yes. For example, kina, kumara etc. Why should we celebrate Matariki In New Zealand? Well, I think we all need a celebration. The gods are looking down on us at this time of the year. The southern hemisphere Is sparkling. We definitely need a celebration. Reminds me of the Chinese New Year. Why shouldN't we have our New Zealand New Year? Who's going to introduce the band? Thanks, Anne Thorp, for joining us. BAND PLAYS SLOW MUSIC (SINGS IN MAORI) SINGING CONTINUES SINGING CONTINUES SINGING CONTINUES SINGING CONTINUES