SKYCITY Celebrates Matariki with Fashion and Fanfare

Observatory Restaurant at the top Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower will play host on 1 July to a Matariki charity extravaganza. The dinner and fashion show is being held in support of SKYCITY’s Matariki recipient charity, The Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust.

The charity was established by well known New Zealand singer and songwriter Hinewehi Mohi in 2004 providing music therapy for special needs children of school age and younger. Hinewehi’s daughter, Hineraukatauri who has severe cerebral palsy was the inspiration for the Trust.

Guests will be hosted by TV personality Miriama Smith and the evening’s entertainment line-up is a contemporary dance performance from Torotoro, fashion celebrating the movement of Te Ao Maori: Street Wear from Dam Native; designers HAKA boutique and Jeanine Clarkin and contemporary and traditional wear to the music of Nat Rose.

A limited amount of tickets are available from TICKETEK to the public with all proceeds going to The Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust.

Justine McKay, trustee for the charity says, “We are delighted that SKYCITY has chosen the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust as the beneficiary of their Matariki celebrations. The money raised will enable us to relocate to our new bigger and better premises due to open on 1 September. We are extremely grateful to SKYCITY for their support as this will help to refit the new centre to suit our purposes.”

Tickets are available from Ticketek:

Matariki SKYCITY Charity Fashion Show - $70 per seat
SKYCITY Observatory Restaurant
1 July 2009
5.15pm
A silent auction will be held.
Dinner will be followed by a Kapahaka performance post Atrium and a Torotoro dance performance in The Deck Bar.


SKYCITY is the home of entertainment in Auckland offering visitors the choice of two hotels, a casino, dining options, the SKYCITY Theatre, cinemas, East Day Spa and of course the world famous Sky Jump and Sky Walk right in the heart of the city.

The Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust
www.rmtc.org.nz
The Centre provides music therapy for special needs children of school age and younger. It is New Zealand's first music therapy centre. The idea grew from a Kiwi family's experience of music therapy in the UK and, subsequently, the realisation there was a need to provide a similar service here.
Singer and songwriter Hinewehi Mohi, her husband George and daughter Hineraukatauri, who has severe cerebral palsy, spent time at the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London in 1999. It was soon evident that therapy through music struck a chord for Hineraukatauri. For the first time in her life, she had an opportunity to participate in and control an activity and to actually create something. Most important for Hineraukatauri, music became a means to communicate. Upon their return to New Zealand, the family determined to establish a music therapy centre here. The dream was realised with the opening in early 2004 of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre (RMTC) in Auckland.

Matariki has two meanings, both referring to a tiny constellation of stars; Mata Riki (Tiny Eyes) and Mata Ariki (Eyes of God). Traditionally, depending on the visibility of Matariki, the coming season's crop was thought to be determined. The brighter the stars indicated the warmer the season would be and thus a more productive crop. It was also seen as an important time for family to gather and reflect on the past and the future. Today Matariki means celebrating the unique place in which we live and giving respect to the land we live on.