Victory Community Centre pledged its annual Matariki celebrations and Railway Reserve lantern hīkoi theme for 2026 was ‘Matariki Herenga Waka - For Everyone’.
The stars well and truly aligned for this theme to shine on 1 July, with hundreds from the community warmed with hāngī cooked in traditional rourou (food baskets) and entertainment, with the fire dancing proving to be the hottest.
Matariki marks the Māori New Year and carries significant meaning well beyond its public holiday. It is a time for remembrance, embracing the values of reflection, celebration and preparation for the future.
