Matariki, A Time Of Renewal

Feeling emotionally and spirituality weakened by the Covid-19 lock down, we were eager to experience a refresh and a refocus. We decided we would focus on sharing manaaki (kindness, thoughtfulness) with our wider work whānau.

Matariki was the perfect opportunity to support people as they transitioned back into te ao mārama (the natural world).

There are natural connections between Matariki and our hauora (health) and te taiao (environment). We felt inspired to help people gain a deeper appreciation for something so meaningful and how to experience the renewal, reflection and reconnection that we all needed as we transitioned into a new season.

We created a special letter pressed artwork that told a story of harmony and balance. The two large spirals represent Matariki and Rehua, bound in an eternal embrace, with their 8 children nestled amongst them.

Flowing out of this kāhui whetū (constellation) is the connections between heaven and earth, between taiao and tangata whenua and pathways to acknowledge our past and renew our vision for the future.

We also produced a campaign for our digital whānau, with engaging story telling of the true name of Matariki, how to view its heliacal rising between 13 - 16 July 2020, the sign of the Māori new year, and how to gain the refresh and renewal we all desired.

We are a Māori business, with staff from all over Aotearoa, Philippines, India and beyond. This project gave us an opportunity to engage with mātāpono Māori (Māori values and principles) as a natural extension of how we behave as a team of creatives.

In this case, the principles of manaaki (kindness, thoughtfulness) tiaki (care and stewardship) and mahitahi (collaboration, team work)) guided a process of reconnection and renewal for us and our wider community.