New Zealand High Commission celebrates Matariki with fashion showcase

Sharing the sounds, songs, and spirit of Māori culture, the New Zealand High Commission celebrated Matariki - the Māori New Year - with their diplomatic and Indian friends. The event, titled RE/NEW: A Time to Shine, was co-hosted by the New Zealand High Commission, in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and Education New Zealand (ENZ). Along with a specially curated fashion showcase, the evening featured a traditional performance by the Māori cultural group Ngāti Koraha.The Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, attended the event as the chief guest.It is truly a privilege to be able to share our Māori traditions with our Indian friends: New Zealand’s High Commissioner Patrick RataThe evening began with a powerful performance by members of Ngāti Koraha, who brought alive the sounds, songs, and spirit of New Zealand’s Māori heritage. Welcoming guests, High Commissioner Patrick Rata said, "It is a pleasure to welcome you all to this special celebration of Matariki. It is truly a privilege to be able to share our Māori traditions with Indian friends, as well as with members of the diplomatic and fashion communities. Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster also known as Pleiades. (Under the Māori lunar calendar, the reappearance of Matariki in the mid-winter night sky marks the beginning of a new year). It is a time of reflection, renewal, and hope. Matariki invites us to honour those who have passed, celebrate those around us, and look forward to a brighter future.”Minister Pabitra Margherita congratulated the High Commissioner and the embassy's staff on the occasion, saying, “It is an honour to join in this joyous celebration of Matariki. I am told that this is a time for remembrance, renewal, and reconnection - between lands, skies, and one another. India and New Zealand enjoy a long-standing and cordial relationship grounded in shared democratic values, mutual respect for diversity, and a strong commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.”Before introducing the jury for the fashion showcase - which brought together twelve young designers from five institutions across New Zealand and India - FDCI Chairman Sunil Sethi shared, “The FDCI has had a long and happy relationship with New Zealand, and I’m glad to have supported this particular collaboration with my team. By working with emerging talent from both New Zealand and India, we celebrate creativity and cultural connections tonight.”