Ngāti Manuhiri

Poutūterangi

Preparation for the winter months begins

Poutūterangi is the 10th lunar month of the Māori year, which is the equivalent to the month of March. Poutūterangi is also the name of the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila – Altair. Traditionally, our tūpuna (ancestors) would store kai (food) in preparation for the winter months ahead. The pātaka (cupboards and storehouses) would be filled with enough food to last for several months. There are community pātaka in Snells Beach, Warkworth, Matakana and Mahurangi West – although they are called different things, the function is the same. Have you considered donating some preserved peaches, pickles or jams to any of these pātaka this poutūterangi?

Living by the Maramataka is based on a lunar cycle, not a sun cycle. The moon shape and cycle change every day and so does the energy it brings – understanding this and planning accordingly has many benefits. Key dates for March:

7-10 March – Highest energy flow. Focus on social gatherings, physical things like exercise, gardening or checking out one of the amazing local walks in the local area.

12-15 March – Reflective energy flow. Focus on your own wellbeing and your whānau. This is a good time to rest, think and reflect.

16-20 March – Abundant energy flow. This is the most productive time of the lunar cycle and a great time to spend time in the water and garden. A great time to tick off your to-do lists!

22-24 March – Lowest energy days and darkest nights when the moon is not visible. This is the perfect time to study or plan.

There are some amazing resources for the Maramataka for beginners, but it starts with observing the environment around you – what birds or insects are you seeing?

If you live near a water body, what can you see? If you are interested in learning more about the Maramataka, please feel free to contact our team via kaitiaki@ ngatimanuhiri.iwi.nz

Atiu hosts 5th Earth Beat festival

Boutique lifestyle festival Earth Beat will return for its fifth year to Atiu Creek Regional Park, west of Wellsford, on March 22-26.

The festival is a multi-genre mix of local and international music talent.

The music line-up includes dub legend Mad Professor (Jamaica), Mo’ Horizons (Germany), Drumspyder (USA), The Black Seeds, Pitch Black and Lou’ana.

There is also an extensive workshop programme. People can participate in anything from yoga, mindfulness, nutrition and health, dance, sustainable living, ancient crafts, drumming and more. Art also plays a role with live painting and interactive art installations all part of the experience. The festival is family friendly with a full schedule of kids activities. It is also a completely zero-waste event where participants bring their own reusable plates, cutlery, cups and bottles, no consumables on-site and nothing is served in any type of single use or compostable consumable. Festival co-creator Issac Oron says Earth Beat provides a platform for transformation to inspire and empower new ways of living.

“Earth Beat came about by a group of friends interested in providing a space where people could share and learn about new ways of living that are in greater harmony with our planet,” he says.

Oron says the festival will demonstrate harmonious ways of living on public land, thanks to Auckland Council, which is hosting the festival in a regional park.

“Earth Beat is an opportunity for people to experience our kaupapa that is based on a world where life is not only sustainable but regenerative; a world where we focus on potential and where individual contributions are aligned with the greater good, living in harmony with the natural rhythm of our bodies and the beat of the Earth.”

Tickets available here: https://earthbeatfestival.com/tickets

TICKETS