Hosted by Murrays Bay Primary School, local students came together on Thursday 2 July to celebrate te ao Māori at the annual Matariki Kapa Haka festival. Through waiata, haka and cultural performances, tamariki proudly represented their schools while strengthening connections to their culture, identity and language, with opportunities to engage with te ao Māori and experience positive cultural role models. The event highlighted the importance of integrating Māori cultural practices and fostering whanaungatanga, and was a wonderful celebration of connection, community and Matariki.