There has been an awesome collaborative project happening in StoryPlace as part of our Matariki programme! The response has been absolutely huge!

With kaitiakitanga (guardianship) as our theme for 2014, we wanted to give tamariki (children) and their whānau (family and friends) the opportunity to acknowledge, discuss and share the role they play in caring for the people, creatures, places and objects in their lives.

We decided to create a manu taratahi (triangular kite) display, as manu tukutuku (kites) were often seen by Māori as a means of communication and connection, and ask our visitors to make ngā  karere (messengers) to be attached to it’s string. 

Many of the karere have ngā huruhuru ataahua (beautiful feathers) decorating them, and helping them to be blown up the line just like those of old. Best of all, the drawings on them share what is most important to our tamariki.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this mahi (work). Ko koe kaitiaki nui katoa (You are all great kaitiaki).

Puritia ake te mahi pai! (Keep up the good work!)

StoryPlace is a special part of Te Papa where preschool children (12 months – 5 years), together with their caregivers, explore museum-related themes together through play and make-believe.

We’re excited by developments in Early Childhood Education and are reflecting these with child-led and activity based sessions, facilitated by a trained StoryPlace host. And to top it all off, all the stories and songs we love now round out the end of each and every session.

Our Matariki programme will be running until Sunday 3rd August.