Once again, local families came to Ambury Park to celebrate Matariki with a moonlit Lantern Walk.
It was a clear, crisp night, perfect for star gazing and celebrating Matariki together, friends, family, and neighbours.
This year, Friends of the Farm arranged a large, well-lit marquee with rubber matting floor for the Lantern Making. This made it easy to accommodate the large number of people who turned up.
A sausage sizzle filled empty tummies before the hikoi. Hundreds of people strolled the foreshore lit by the homemade lanterns and moonlight, taking in the beauty of the Manukau Harbour on such a still night. Seeing chickens roosting high up in the branches and Dottie the mama pig feeding her babies added delight. After the walk hot chocolate and homemade cookies warmed everyone up.
One parent who came for the first time with her five-year-old daughter told organisers she had no idea what to expect but was quite overwhelmed by how wonderful it all was.
We had such wonderful support from our network of volunteers who helped in many ways. Making lanterns, serving food, guiding on the track, and cleaning up. Another nice touch was that Ambury Park has recently been gifted a Maori name – Te ara i tautahi, the path of Sirius the star – which signals the growing season for mana whenua, so it was especially wonderful to celebrate that also.
Friends of the Farm aim to create a caring, connected, wastewise community in Mangere Bridge. This event was enjoyable, free, family fun and connected people to nature.
More Ambury Regional Park news…
- Moonlight Family Fun – our 2026 Matariki Lantern Walk
- 2025 Seedling Swap Day and Giant Pumpkin Competition
- Moonlight Family Fun – our 2025 Matariki Lantern Walk
- 6500+ more plants at Ambury Regional Park, Māngere Bridge
- Preserves Workshop
- 2024 Volunteer Celebration and Thank You
- Bee Supermarket at Ambury Farm Park?!
- Māngere Bridge Seedling & Seed Swap Day
- Family Fun as 100’s enjoy our Matariki Lantern Walk 2024
- Best Bangers in the ‘Bridge – Rewarding Our Volunteers
