King Charles III has sent “his warmest good wishes” to those celebrating Matariki in New Zealand in a bilingual address.
The monarch wrote a message to Aotearoa yesterday in both Te Reo Māori and English.
“E mihi ana ki a Puanga – mānawatia a Matariki.
“To everyone in New Zealand celebrating Matariki, I send my warmest good wishes,” it read.
“The Māori new year, when the Pleiades constellation rises in the southern skies, offers the opportunity to pause and reflect.
“It is a time to remember those we have lost, to come together and to look forward to a bright year ahead.”
“This year’s theme of Matariki Heri Kai speaks to sustainable food production and the bounty of the seasons to come,” he said.
The King added the theme “makes us grateful for the abundance of the natural world – the forests, gardens, waterways and oceans that sustain us”.
“Wherever you are this Matariki season, I hope you have a chance to share food in fellowship with your friends, family or community.”