Diverse workshops and Matariki arts get funding green light
A fresh wave of community board funding will support traditional Māori art, mātauranga knowledge, and practical life skills in the Far North. In April, all three Far North community boards approved funding for a diverse series of workshops, including those that celebrate Matariki Māori New Year and will run in local libraries.
Matariki is officially recognised with a public holiday, which this year falls on Friday 20 June. Matariki-themed workshops that got the tick from all three boards included printing workshops by Tania Pomana, rongoā traditional healing workshops by Jannine Pikari, papermaking sessions from Kōrari Enterprises, and raranga weaving classes by Medina Koni. These activities are designed to showcase and preserve mātauranga Māori during the winter season.
A full breakdown of funding for April can be found on our Far North community board decisions website.
Funding for other Matariki-themed projects included:
Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board
- $3959 to Living Theatre Charitable Trust towards running Matariki Glow Show 2025
- $3000 to Paua Trust/Maryann Connor towards Matariki movies in Moerewa
- $2600 to Turner Centre towards running Matariki Ngā Reha te reo Māori play performance.
Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board
- $3500 to Paua Trust/Maryann Connor towards operating a Matariki movie in Rāwene
- $2000 to Hokianga Community Education Trust for the costs towards a Matariki Toi Māori showcase and wānanga.
Other significant funding
Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board
- $4851 to The Dust Palace Trust for costs towards running the show Te Tangi a Te Tūi
- $3200 to Whangaroa RSA for Whangaroa RSA centenary commemorations.
Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board
- $2500 to Ngā Taonga o Kaikohe for financial education wānanga in Kaikohe/Ngāwhā
- $2257 to Hokianga Historical Society towards purchasing and installing a heat pump
- $2000 to Graeme Dingle Foundation towards mentoring Ngā Ara Whetū at Northland College.
Te Hiku Community Board
- $1000 to Momentum Charitable Trust for life skills and financial courses at Kaitāia Probation Centre.
Next community board meetings
Te Hiku Community Board will meet on Tuesday 13 May.
Bay of Islands-Whangaora Community Board will meet on Thursday 15 May.
Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board will meet on Friday 16 May.
For a full rundown of community board decisions please visit our Far North community board decisions website.