Dr. Oetker Stories
Matariki in New Zealand: Baking with Dr. Oetker Queen
Dr. Oetker New Zealand is one of the youngest members of the Dr. Oetker family as part of Dr. Oetker Queen Australia. Four employees take care of the businesses in Auckland. They are looking forward to a special day.
10.7.2023 • Company and Culture
In this article, we have a look at New Zealand for Matariki (Day), learn about Māori culture and present matching products from the Dr. Oetker brand Queen.
Matariki Day – New Year according to Maori culture
On July 14, New Zealand celebrates Matariki and thus the beginning of the New Year according to Māori culture. Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand who have been granted "their" Matariki Day as an official holiday from 2022.
Matariki is the name of a star cluster, also known as the Pleiades or ‘Seven Sisters’. Matariki watches over the family in this symbol as whea, or mother. The sighting of the star cluster in winter signals a new year.
Matariki Day stands for family, environment, sustainability and gratitude
Matariki is celebrated with offerings to remember ancestors and honor life. There is dining and singing among family and friends. In addition, plants and trees are planted to preserve and pass on sustainability as a responsibility for future generations.
Matariki also has a sweet component because people of New Zeland love to bake cookies, cupcakes and cakes with colourful decorations. Here, sweet taste meets the colors of the star constellation to produce Galaxy cookies. Some also decorate their cupcakes with small stars representing the Matariki constellation.
Dr. Oetker Queen
Dr. Oetker New Zealand markets the Queen, Hansells and Taylor & Colledge brands on both the North and South Islands. Queen in particular is a traditional brand that exists almost as long as Dr. Oetker and whose history also began in a pharmacy.
Today, Dr. Oetker Queen offers a wide range of baking and decorating products that can even be used to mix the colors of the Matariki starry sky.
In 15 minutes, for example, vanilla cupcakes are prepared according to the recipe of Dr. Oetker Queen and with different star sprinkles and decorations, everything can be suitably decorated especially on Matariki Day.
Learn more about Dr. Oetker New Zealand in our overview about Dr. Oetker Locations & Brands.