Matariki for everyone proves true at Takaparawhau

This year's Matariki theme, Matariki herenga waka (Matariki for everyone) proved true at Takaparawhau on Friday, where people from all walks of life gathered before dawn to welcome the Māori New Year.

Hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, thousands gathered for the offering of hautapu and acknowledgement of the Matariki stars.

Matariki herenga waka - meaning Matariki is a mooring place for all canoes - recognises Tāmaki Makaurau as a place where many cultures come together, while encouraging everyone to embrace the values of the Matariki: remembering those who have passed, celebrating the present and looking towards the future.

Those values were reflected in the ceremony and in the thousands of people who stood together - Māori and non-Māori, haukāinga and manuhiri alike.

For Kohimarama resident Gael Finlayson-Davis, the morning was an emotional experience that brought tears to her eyes.

"It's been very special. Very wonderful to hear the waiata and the oratory and the extraordinary harbour outlook. It's been very moving."

Finlayson-Davis said attending the hautapu ceremony was part of her own journey to better understand te ao Māori as Pākehā.

"I've been learning te reo and trying to be part of a better future for our country."

Looking ahead to the new year, she hoped Matariki would continue bringing people together.

"[I hope] for more unity and for recognition of tangata whenua."

Among the thousands was Tschwacks Joseph, originally from Haiti, who attended a hautapu ceremony for the first time.

Holding the Haitian flag, Joseph said he wanted to show his support for Māori while celebrating a culture that reminded him of home.

"First of all, it's my first time, but I can see how Māori people are proud of their culture. I love this kind of connection because there is something similar in my culture. So it's like home. I love it. Next year I will be here."

"Haiti is the first country in the world to abolish slavery. And after that we [had] a lot of other countries do the same. So, this flag is the meaning of freedom for all the world. So, I'm here supporting Māori in this beautiful event."

After three years living in Auckland, Joseph said he had fallen in love with the Māori culture.

"Everything," he said when asked what he loved most.

"I even challenge myself - when my English gets better, next step will be learning Māori. Because the language is beautiful. More than that, the kapa haka, the way they sing is so beautiful. So I love this culture."

For broadcaster and digital creator Te Aorere Pewhairangi, seeing thousands of people from different cultures gathered together showed exactly what this year's theme was intended to represent.

"It's beautiful...and it's a representation of the theme this year, Matariki herenga waka - Matariki for everyone," he said.

"Tāmaki is a diverse place. A lot of people from all walks of life and all cultures from around the world live here and I guess the principles of Matariki are universal. They transcend culture - remembrance, celebrating the moment and looking forward to the future.

"This morning, through the hautapu ceremony, that was achieved."

Pewhairangi said Matariki provided an opportunity to pause in a world that rarely slowed down.

"Matariki is one of the many kaupapa that we can celebrate and be proud of being Māori. It contributes to the revitalisation of our language, it contributes to the revitalisation of our culture.

"In a really busy world we don't get a lot of time to stop and pause and reflect on the year that we've had and I guess reset and look forward to the year that's to come."

"So having time to be with our whānau and friends, celebrating our culture through Matariki has been amazing."