MĀORI NEW YEAR IS CELEBRATED BY THE HIGH COMMISSION OF NEW ZEALAND

The High Commission of New Zealand to Sri Lanka celebrated the rising of Matariki, Māori New Year, and the official opening of Aotearoa New Zealand High Commission in Colombo in an elegant ceremony held at the Lotus Room, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in the evening hours of 14 July 2023.

Honorable Dinesh Gunawardena, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka graced the occasion as the chief guest and congratulated the High Commission and great people of New Zealand for the New Year.

At the invitation extended by the High Commissioner of the Aotearoa New Zealand High Commission in Colombo His Excellency Michael Appleton, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil attended the grand ceremony that was rich with Māori cultural events. Attending the historic cultural evening, CDS wished for the New Year and congratulated the anniversary celebrations of the High Commission.

Matariki is a star cluster that appears in the early morning sky in New Zealand during the mid-winter months. Traditionally, Matariki festivities included lighting ritual fires, making offerings, and various celebrations to farewell the dead, honour ancestors and celebrate life. Nowadays, people all across Aotearoa come together to remember their ancestors, share (kai) food, sing songs, tell stories and play music.

The ceremony was also attended by a number of diplomats, parliamentarians, and distinguished invitees.