Matariki Day Out

 Matariki is celebrated as the Maori New Year, a time of remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future.  I joined in the "Matariki Kaumatua (respected elder) Day Out"  bus trip yesterday with several friends.  This was organised by our local library for older people in the community, and two buses took us out to Foxton Beach Estuary to celebrate the spirit of the season.

I was having morning tea in the library cafe with this group of friends from the Cancer Society some weeks ago when staff member Henry stopped at our table to tell us about this (free) trip to see if we were interested.  Of course we were, it sounded very interesting indeed, so we booked our places.  And yesterday was the big day.  Quite a crowd were gathered in the library, we boarded our respective buses and off we went.  The weather didn't look too promising as we started on the journey, I could hardly see out the window as we drove along.

It looks rather damp and misty out there

The weather cleared and we arrived at the Manawatu Marine Boating Club in fine but overcast weather.  Those that could climbed the stairs to the restaurant, and the less able and those with walkers were assisted in and out of the lift.  

Boating Club

There were lovely views from upstairs looking out over the estuary.

There were about 100 people attending, and our morning started with a warm Maori welcome.  Then we   had two different speakers telling us about the Manawatu Estuary, a very special ecological place indeed.  This is a Ramsar site, a wetland designated as being of international importance under the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands.  This area is a well known birding place, with 93 species being identified.  The most well known are the godwits, which fly to and from Alaska and Siberia each year.  This takes an incredible 7-9 days of non stop flying, parent birds together with the youngsters born in the Alaskan summer.

Godwit

A light lunch followed, sandwiches, hot savouries and a selection of sweet slices (I tried a very tasty lemon slice).  If I jump up quickly, I thought, I could take a photo of one of the tables before the hungry hordes descended.

Lunch is served

Of course, there was plenty of food to go around, so no one went hungry.  A cup of coffee was next, and was so welcome and warming.  After lunch we settled down to be entertained by the Maori musical group in attendance.   After the music was finished I asked one of the staff to take a photo for us.

Enjoying our day out, Betty, Elaine, Margaret, Jenny and Ruth

As it was a rather chilly day, I decided to wear my thick cream jumper with an embroidered Scotch Thistle that I had purchased in Scotland.  A couple of ladies came up to me and asked if I was from Scotland.  No, I told them, but my grandfather came from Glasgow, so I do have Scottish blood in my veins.  And I had traveled throughout Scotland.  

Then it was time to reboard the bus for our trip home.  We all had a lovely time, it was a great day out indeed.  Henry was chatting away on the bus about making plans for next years Mataraki trip, so we will be sure  to keep an eye out for that one too.

Time to head home