July 15th:
On the occasion of the Maori New Year, Matariki, various multicultural organizations and friends came together to plant 4000 trees in the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park in Kirikiriroa, where we had already enjoyed time at the Migrant Expo and with the Hamilton Colombian Community Trust. We were thrilled to have been invited to join – what a way to welcome in a new year!
Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. This constellation rises in midwinter and heralds the start of a new year. The three major principles that guide Matariki are: remembrance — honoring those who have died since the last rising of Matariki; celebrating the present — gathering together with family and friends; looking to the future — looking forward to the promise of a new year.
After many hands had planted 4000 native New Zealand trees, The Ball received some fantastic pledges. Saying ‘ko tahi poro, ko tahi ao’ – ‘one ball, one world’ in te reo Māori – Jevaia made the pledge:
everyone will learn their pepeha and their whakapapa, which is where they come from. …My hope is that by doing this, people will be more connected to te taiao – the environment – and ngā tangata – the people.
Another young Māori woman provided The Ball with its first Māori blessing – a Karakia. She also spoke wonderfully in a mixture of te reo and English.
The Ball has connected to indigenous people in many countries en route to New Zealand. There is much to learn from indigenous practices in terms of taking the time to breathe and listen so that we can live sustainably with our earth. Indeed, as we played FairPlay football with children at the tree planting, we were reminded once again of the words of wisdom of Ravu, from our indigenous partner organization the Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) in the Tavua Village in Fiji. He related Spirit of Football’s Fairplay Football rule number 3 to the human rush for development:
Sometimes it’s good to stop The Ball and look around for better options, rather than just running off or kicking The Ball off the field. Sometimes there is a free player, or a sustainable solution, standing right next to you.
You can find out more about The Ball’s visit to Tavua Village in Fiji here.
Thank you to EarthDiverse , Hamilton City Council and WIFCO – Waikato Interfaith Council / Te Tīaho Uenuku for letting us be part of this amazing event. Thanks to the following partners for coming along and making this event so memorable and also signing The Ball:
The Refugee Orientation Centre Trust – ROC
Waikato Biodiversity Forum
Waikato Multicultural Council Inc
People, Cities & Nature – New Zealand
Waikato Arab Social Club نادي وايكاتو العربي الاجتماعي
