昨日、南半球[みなみはんきゅう](= the Southern Hemisphere)では冬至[とうじ](= winter solstice)でした。ニュージーランドでは冬至[とうじ]にパーティをすることがあります。冬至は一年で一番[いちばん]夜[よる]が長[なが]く、日が短[みじか]い日。冬[ふゆ]の寒[さむ]い日に家族[かぞく]や友達と過[す]ごすのはとてもいいことだと思います。これから、南半球では、日が少しずつ長くなります。冬至のパーティはみんながするわけではありません。私は昨日、友達の家に招待[しょうたい]されて(= to be invited)、ろうそくの灯[ひ](= candle lights)を眺[なが]めながら(= looking at)、静[しず]かにひと時[とき]を過[す]ごしました。いただいたスープはおいしかったしとても楽[たの]しかったです。
ニュージーランドではこの時期[じき](= around this time of the year)、マタリキと呼[よ]ばれる特別[とくべつ]な(= special)時期でもあります。これはマオリの新年[しんねん]です。このウェブサイトに詳[くわ]しい(= detailed)説明[せつめい](= explanation)があります。今日から７月のはじめごろまで、全国[ぜんこく](= across the country)でいろいろなイベントがあります。
It was the winter solstice in the Sothern Hemisphere yesterday. Some people here, in New Zealand, had a party. I was invited to a friends' house last night; we sat together with candle lights and enjoyed each other's company, which was very nice. I also enjoyed very nice soup the friend prepared for us.
As you know, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight of the year. It is good for people to get together and celebrate the day with family and friends. From now on, the length of daylight will become longer and longer! This is not for everybody, but I know some people get together on the day.
New Zealand also has a special thing around this time of the year, which is called Matariki; this is the Maori New Year. You can read good explanation about Matariki here. There are quite a few events across the country held from today till early July.