Lantern festival and Matariki in Kūaotunu.

Over 100 people attended the annual Kuaotunu Kindergarten Lantern Festival which was also an early Matariki celebration. The whole community was invited by the Head Teacher, Amanda Roche, to share in a storytelling time with all the children before the bagpipe-led procession down to the reserve. Every child carried a lit lantern, made as part of the Kindergarten programme. A bonfire awaited the crowd along with hot food and lots of community conversation. Another feature was the mud which surrounded the bonfire but the universally worn gumboots coped very well. In some ways this was a weather-proof event because the inclement weather, the muddy ground and the low temperature did not deter the spirit or level

of enjoyment by a community which loves its kindergarten.

Caption: The lantern procession led by piper Phil Nielsen.