Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School

Text by Te Aorere Pewhairangi

“People know Matariki as the mark of the new year. But it’s also a well-being check. Matariki is the Goddess of well-being, who married Rehua the God of healing. They have eight children. Each reflecting a different aspect of health.

Pōhutukawa is the star of those who have passed on. She asks how we’re carrying our grief and whether we’ve made peace with our emotions.

The earth star, the forest star, the freshwater star, the ocean star are the stars of the food we harvest. They ask whether we’re nourishing our bodies and caring for the environment.

The rain star and the wind star are the weather stars. They remind us that some things sit beyond our control. The question isn’t whether storms will come but how we respond when they do.

Then there is Hiwa-i-te-rangi, the star of hopes and dreams. She asks whether in a tough world we are still looking forward.

Māori health isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, social, environmental, and spiritual.

When all eight children are in balance at the start of the year it’s called Te P**i o Matariki. It’s not a cure, it’s a check in with the mother of well-being."

Kindergarten will not open today until 10am due to flooding. We will assess if a 10am start is safe.

Special Character Thoughts: The Spiral Walk
It is that time of the year again, where we get to celebrate the turning point in the year; the shortest day and the longest nights require us to search for the light from within. The spiral walk is a celebration of reverence and quiet, which we do every year around the time of the solstice.
The children come into a darkened room, with a spiral of evergreens on the floor. The first child, walking slowly and carefully as their way is only lit by their own candle, makes their way into the centre of the spiral to light the candle there. All children will then, one after the other, receive a red apple with a candle in the middle, and make their way into the middle of the spiral, light their candle from the middle candle and place it along the spiral. Slowly but surely, the room gets brighter and brighter. Accompanied by a mixture of quiet and singing, the children experience how everyone contributes to the brightness of the room, a symbol for how we all contribute to the light that will take us through winter.
This celebration is carefully prepared and full of symbolism; the green that makes the spiral is usually chosen to be evergreen, a type of tree that symbolises life. The apples symbolise the seed, that lies inside in the dark, waiting patiently for the light to return so they can grow.
The physical form of the spiral represents the celestial marking of the seasons; from the beginning of the path being the summer solstice and the spiral inward, through the labyrinth of autumn to the point where the days get shorter. We pause at the centre of the spiral, at the symbol of winter solstice, when we are at the darkest time of the year. As we walk back out of the spiral, we make our way through spring towards the summer solstice – the seasonal rhythm is complete.
While none of this is explained to the children at the time, the picture is powerful and creates the best kind of learning – through doing and experiencing.

Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School
Handwork/Woodwork Teacher – part time permanent 0.4FTE
We seek a state registered teacher with skills and knowledge of the Steiner Handwork and Woodwork curriculum to teach years 2 – 8. The woodwork curriculum is introduced in the senior years at school. The ideal applicant will have a commitment to Steiner pedagogy, and a flexibility to suit a smaller school.
Applications close 12pm, Monday, 22nd of June 2026. An application form and job description is available on our website https://www.dunedinsteiner.nz/noticeboard.html or by request from [email protected] Telephone: 03 471 2163
Please send the application form, your CV and a cover letter, outlining your skills, experience and how you relate to our special character to: [email protected] Incomplete applications will not be considered.