Group of enthusiastic Tūrangi residents have created a stunning Matariki light show on video using only torches and a drone.
While Rotorua showcases its impressive Aronui Indigenous Arts Festival light show with hundreds of drones this Thursday and Friday, Tūrangi has crafted its own unique version. This local effort involved a community working together and a single drone to capture their creation.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!On a recent winter night, about 30 members of the Tūrangi Events group gathered with torches at Te Ponanga Saddle. They mapped out the star positions on the ground and, with torches in hand, spread out to create a light effect representing the stars of Matariki. A drone hovering overhead captured this starry scene.
This display was not just about Matariki; it symbolized a vibrant effort to revitalize the community and foster unity.
Athena Anaru of Pihanga Health, a leader of the Matariki initiative, told the Taupō and Tūrangi Herald that many in Tūrangi had been struggling lately. They saw this project as a way to boost physical and mental health.
“In a small town environment, we struggle with all kinds of things… we’re on the fringes and often get forgotten. We want to maintain a community vibe because health is external too.”
Dorene Mills of Tall Poppy Real Estate, who helped bring the creation to life in just 24 hours, agreed on the importance of community involvement.
“I thought about it a couple of months beforehand then set it aside. A few weeks ago, I mentioned it to someone in the events team, she made a call, and we pulled it off in a day.”
The final touch was a drone operated by Taupō District Council’s digital content creator.
Mills, inspired by her education in Canada, wanted to do something different to highlight Matariki events. “I remembered forming our school letters on the field and thought it would be fun to do something similar with lights.”
The aim was to showcase the positive aspects of Tūrangi. “There’s a push to create more for our kids, and many people here share the same passions and desire to see good things happen,” Mills said. “In our little town, it’s up to us who are passionate to do something for our kids and everyone else. There is a lot of heart in Tūrangi.”
Tūrangi’s Matariki celebrations include a karakia and night market on June 26, a hosted gala by Tongariro School and Family Lights Disco on June 27, and the Shimmer and Shine Ball on June 28.