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He Rārangi Tāngata: Who do you know, really?
- Tauma Lobacheva
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 9
Matariki is a time to pause and look both inward and outward - to reflect on those who came before us, to cherish those around us, and to consider what we’re growing for those who’ll follow.
In te ao Māori, wellbeing isn’t an individual pursuit - it’s collective. It lives in relationships, whakapapa, whenua, and whanaungatanga. Matariki invites us not just to look up at the stars, but across to each other.
Each year, Catalyse creates a Matariki tool to support reflection and connection. In 2025, we’re delighted to gift you He Rārangi Tāngata: Community Connection Bingo - a simple, playful prompt to reflect on the people in our lives and the stories we may be missing.
We’re richer when we truly know one another - not just names and job titles, but lived experiences. The kind that stretch our worldview and anchor us in empathy.
It’s easy to say we support migrants, care about disabled people, or want better for those on low incomes. But policy, prejudice, and public opinion are shaped by how well we actually know the people behind the label.
In Aotearoa today, we face complex challenges - from climate change, housing affordability and the cost of living, to aging, accessibility, and loneliness. These aren’t just technical issues. They’re people problems. And they won’t be solved without deeper connection, cultural humility, and courageous listening.
The growing divide between left and right, urban and rural, advantaged and struggling, makes this all the more urgent. Equity doesn’t come from ideology - it comes from understanding.
So give the game a go. Use it with your team, your whānau, your community group, or as a personal reflection. And play not to win, but to wonder:
Who’s in my circle?
Whose story don’t I know yet?
What might shift if I truly listened?
Our wero this Matariki is to grow deeper understanding. Because, in the face of complexity, connection is our greatest resource.
