Hospital celebrates Maori New Year
While hospitals are known for many things, a place to celebrate New Year probably isn’t one of them.
The Taranaki Base Hospital may have helped change that point of view.
Recently it came alive with singing, storytelling and kai sharing during its first official celebration of Puanga, Taranaki Maori New Year celebration.
‘‘It is a time to wananga, to restore faith and hope for the future, a time for whanaungatanga, to be with others, share stories and kai, and celebrate who we are,’’ Taranaki DHB chief advisor Maori health Ngawai Henare said.
Maori celebrate Puanga (also known in other areas as Matariki) to signify the beginning of the Maori New Year. The appearance of Puanga (Rigel in Orion) signalled the start of winter.
Puanga signals other new beginnings - a time to plant trees, prepare the land for planting crops and renew associations with whanau and friends.
It is also the time to reflect on your place in the world, to reawaken old skills, try out new ones and set new goals.
To acknowledge the people that have recently passed away Taranaki DHB’s waiata singing group performed at various locations around the base sharing their love of music with patients and staff.
Being in hospital can be a difficult time for patients and their whanau at the best of times and
‘‘It is a time to wananga, to restore faith and hope for the future, a time for whanaungatanga’’ Ngawai Henare
the sound of music was a welcome way to lift the mood.
The celebration also included an enlightening presentation from award-winning broadcaster and TV presenter, Te Poihi Cambell.
Cambell shared his knowledge to hospital staff about the true relevance of Puanga, its symbolisation and relevance from a health perspective.
Henare said the time of Puanga was very significant for Taranaki Maori.
This time around it was even more special with the celebration of He Puanga Haeata, the Crown offering a formal apology to the people of Parihaka for atrocities carried out in the late 1800’s and a package of support to help rebuild the Parihaka community.
‘‘Taranaki DHB is a contributor to the reconciliation package by way of resources and services,’’ Henare said.