Hundreds of families braved bitter temperatures in Arrowtown yesterday afternoon to celebrate Matariki and raise money for the Arrowtown Preschool’s extension.
As soon as the sun disappeared from Buckingham Green, the mercury dropped several degrees, but mulled wine, hot pies, barbecued brisket, sausages, marshmallows and smores — a nod to the United States’ Independence Day — toasted over an open fire helped keep hands warm and tummies happy.
All proceeds from the event went to the preschool to help fund a $400,000 extension of its Cotter Ave site, which would include additions to sleep and rest areas for children, a new whanau/meeting room and administration area.
Arrowtown School’s kapa haka group braved bitter temperatures yesterday afternoon to perform at the town’s annual Matariki celebration. PHOTOS: TRACEY ROXBURGH
Included in the entertainment yesterday afternoon were Queenstown’s Maori culture group, Waiatatia; tamariki from Arrowtown Preschool; Arrowtown School’s kapa haka group; and, for the first time, performances from other Wakatipu schools, including Queenstown Primary School, Remarkables Primary School and Wakatipu High School.
Emma Morton-Farrelly (19), of Mount Maunganui, keeps herself warm while toasting marshmallows with Greg Thoms, of Arrowtown, in the background.
