To celebrate Matariki, Auckland Airport will have children greet and educate travellers in Te Reo this long weekend.
School children, as well as airport staff who volunteered, have already recorded the announcements that will welcome people to Tāmaki Makaurau and educate them on Matariki over the PA system at both the domestic and international terminals.
Psalm-Aawhina Mahanga, a 15-year-old Manuwera High School student, and Marlow Aira Reid, a seven-year-old who goes to Ormiston Junior School, are the kids whose voices will be heard by airport visitors. They were joined by airport employees Gabriel Thompson and Mataio Masina.
"The first thing travellers will hear when they land on Kiwi soil and disembark the plane, will be te reo Māori, and meaningful messages of Matariki, over our PA system," said Carrie Hurihanganui, chief executive at the airport, as reported by 1News.
"Matariki is an important time for many of our Auckland Airport employees and we want to share this with our travellers. These PA recordings have the opportunity to be something we can come back to and refresh time and time again, as a way to mark special occasions."
"Our team members were proud to be a part of this and we look forward to seeing reactions from travellers as they come through the terminals.”
Visitors will hear the following as one of the PA announcements that will play throughout the airport terminals:
"Nau mai ki Aotearoa, tau mai ki Tāmaki Makaurau. Tākina rā ko Pūanga e tōia nei a Matariki ki te pae. Mānawatia te wā, mānawatia te ātea, mānawatia ngā tohu o te tau hou Māori. Tukua tō manawa kia ngā i te mauri o Matariki.”
“Tukua tō ngākau kia pīpiri atu ki te mahana o tō ahi kā. Tukua tō ate kia ngiha anō a mahara. Tukua ngā hara ki tua, kia wātea ai tō ātea ki mua. Mānawatia a Matariki.”
"Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand. Today, we celebrate the rising of Matariki, the star cluster. For many Māori, it heralds the start of the New Year. As you step into Tāmaki Makaurau, immerse yourself in the magic of Matariki.”
“For many, Matariki is a time to rest, to reconnect with loved ones and reminisce about past times, to realign with the present and reset for the future. We wish you a bountiful year ahead. Mānawatia a Matariki."
