Tena koutou katoa. The rising of Matariki signals the beginning of a new year. Let's take a moment to reflect and honour the memories of those who are no longer with us. Let's come together to celebrate our blessings and look towards a bright future full of promise.
As we reflect on the past year, we want to extend our aroha to those who have been affected by severe weather conditions. At BDO, we express our appreciation to everyone who has been involved in the relief efforts and those who are still persevering. We extend our heartfelt support to those who have had to endure difficult times. We would also like to share the efforts of our Tairawhiti office in supporting and uplifting their community, whānau, and hapu. Read their update below.
We are looking to the future and the growing presence of Māori in BDO and the accounting industry. BDO is pleased to announce applications are now open for the Sir Henare Ngata scholarship – now in its third year.
In honour of Sir Henare Ngata, the first Māori chartered accountant, we're providing national scholarships to support three talented Māori students in their pursuit to become accountants, while in their final or penultimate year of study. Learn more about the scholarship here.
“Te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere; te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga nōna te ao.” “The bird that feeds on the miro berry, theirs is the forest; the bird that feeds on knowledge, theirs is the world.” - Māori proverb.
The theme for 2023 is Matariki Kāinga Hokia – Matariki calls you home. Last month, we had the honour of coming together for our second annual BDO Wānanga in Waitangi, 'Birthplace of the Nation'. The event was attended by BDO employees from various parts of New Zealand, who gathered to learn about the Treaty of Waitangi signing from historian Moea Armstrong. Furthermore, they were educated about the Maramataka Māori by Moana Timoko & Far North District Council Mayor Moko Tepania.
To learn more about Matariki, visit the official Matariki webpage here.
Angela Edwards
BDO Māori Business Sector Leader
[Photos by Janene Swann, BDO Gisborne]
Matariki update from our Tairawhiti office (BDO Gisborne)
Mindful of all their clients and community have endured through multiple storm events over the past year, Janene Swann (BDO Gisborne), shares an update on how the spirit of Matariki is being celebrated within BDO’s Tairawhiti office.
“We are intending to shine a light on the importance of the whānau unit and bringing our celebrations “home” with all our whānau (at work and home). Whānau is core to who we are, they are the glue that keeps us all together and grounded through whatever life throws at us - therefore our focus is about treasuring those relationships and connections which makes this time of year so special.
Our Pākihi Māori team are responsible for co-ordinating our Matariki celebrations again this year, and with it also being school holidays our Pākihi Māori Business Director, Kylee Potae, suggested we get our tamariki involved too. We will be hosting a whānau friendly painting session, whereby those that attend will have the opportunity to paint on canvases and learn more about the different Matariki stars, followed by a kaitahi (shared kai).
On the back of our recent office community day out, we also wanted to show our continued support towards a local community organisation that is centred around tamariki and the wider whānau. Te Hapori Disability Trust provides day programmes to support tamariki with high dependency needs, so that they can stay together with their whānau at home.
The sharing of matauranga around the significance of Matariki with our own tamariki and mokopuna has been greatly welcomed by many within the office. I’m personally finding that through my 11-year-old, he’s taking me on my own learning journey through the different purakau and karakia he is being taught at Intermediate. There is a lot we can learn from one another, as for many of us, certain aspects of New Zealand history and special celebrations such as Matariki weren’t part of the school curriculum in our younger years.
Lastly this week, we will be installing our Matariki window wrap which will aim to uplift our community with local landscape imagery that our region is renowned for. The images symbolising feelings of hope for the future, of positivity and warmth. Whilst we know our region has been through so much already and by no means is this the end of it, we must have a glimmer of hope that eventually there will be better days for us all to enjoy together with our loved ones, and we will get through this.”
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BDO Gisborne office
BDO Gisborne Matariki whānau event