Matariki, Maori New Year

Matariki is a cluster of stars that appears in the early morning sky in New Zealand around the middle of winter. It is one of the biggest clusters in the night sky at this time with hundreds of stars in this cluster. This star cluster is seen around the world at different times of the year.

In New Zealand Matariki to Maori is the start of the Maori New Year, with the reappearance of the Matariki star cluster in the early morning sky in the East this brings closure to the year and welcomes the new year.

In Maori history, the Matariki star cluster was linked to planting, harvesting and hunting. If the stars appeared bright and clear this was a sign that there would be an abundant harvest for the coming year.

The celebration of Matariki is Matauranga Maori (ancestral knowledge and wisdom) is a time to honour those lost since the last rising of Matariki, it is a time to give thanks for what we have and a time to look forward to the promise of a great year ahead.

Matariki takes place mid-winter and changes from late May to early July so this year it is a little later. The dates of Matariki change from tribe to tribe and the geography of the tribe as they would see the rising of Matariki at different time depending on location.

This year Matariki is on Friday the 24th of June which sees the reappearance of the constellation, the best time to see Matariki is early morning just before dawn in the Eastern sky.

For Maori, Matariki festivities would include lightning ritual fires, making offerings and celebrations to farewell the dead, honour ancestors and to celebrate life. This was a great time for storytelling, singing, playing music and sharing Kai.

To find Matariki star clutter, look to the northeast horizon before sunrise, then look for Orion’s belt or Tautoru. Then move your gaze north for three bright stars then you will see a cluster of tiny stars about the width of Orion’s belt. These are the Matariki stars.

This cluster contains hundreds of stars with only nine of them visible to the naked eye with seven of them most visiable. Each of these nine stars has significance and a story behind it. One of the legends is that it represents a mother whaea, Matariki and her six daughters Tapuanuku, Tapuarangi, Waipunarangi, Waiti, Waita and Ururangi.

Many other countries know this star cluster the ancient Greeks named it the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. In Hawaiian it is Makali’i ‘eye of royalty’ and in Japan Subaru means ‘gathered together.

This wonderful time is a great time to connect to family and friends. Celebrate in your own way the past, present and future and start some new traditions. Enjoy your new public holiday day off and reflect on our country’s past, present and future.