Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Seeking stars for Matariki
Lockdown may be gone, but the Aunties at Omaka Marae want to ensure that those who went above and beyond during New Zealand’s isolation period are not forgotten.
The Aunties, known for their Manaaki Ma¯ ori-inspired condiment range, are hunting for five ‘‘lockdown stars’’ to attend a Matariki dinner on July 13.
Auntie Donna Nepia of Manaaki said they would be rolling out the red carpet and creating an intimate dining experience immersed in culture.
‘‘Our guests will experience an exclusive tour through our carved meeting house and a ko¯ rero around Matariki. We will also be bringing in several of our super talented up and coming Ma¯ori entertainers to perform while our guests are wined and dined.’’
While they were taking nominations for every sort of lockdown hero, guests did not need to be essential workers, Nepia said.
‘‘Coming out of lockdown there were so many stories of manaakitanga that didn’t necessarily make the media, the kind of things that happened within our own neighbourhoods and bubbles.
‘‘For my wha¯ nau it was these simple acts of kindness that made lockdown that little bit easier, the consistent texts from our neighbours to see if we were ok, to the teddy bear displays that bought a smile to our children’s faces on our daily walks,’’ she said.
Nepia said the meal would be Manaaki inspired.
‘‘So we’re going to be using our products throughout the menu. I hear from our meal planners and chefs there’s going to be nine dishes representing the nine stars of Matariki,’’ she said.
‘‘Lockdown seems like such a long time ago and now that we are back into the hustle and bustle of everyday life it can be easy to forget the tough times we all faced, and are still facing.
‘‘But Matariki is a time to pause, reflect and acknowledge and as Manaaki is a Social
Enterprise of Omaka Marae, we felt it was the perfect time to give back to some of the unsung heroes in our community and celebrate them,’’ Nepia said.
Nominations were open to all Marlborough residents and could be made at www. marlboroughnz.com/matariki/. Nominations close July 3 and winners would be announced on July 6.
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