Matariki- a time for flying kites!

Watch this video about kites that are stored at Te Papa in Wellington. There were several different types and shapes of Maori kite with names like manu autea, manu taratahi, manu tukutuku and manu patiki. The word manu- means 'bird'.

Manu tukutuku were often flown at matariki time. They were flown to send messages to people- both living and dead. And they were also used to celebrate the fact that all of the hard work of harvesting was over and that it was a time to celebrate...and play.