On June 28th, 2024, people all over New Zealand celebrated Matariki to usher in the Maori New Year (the Mātahi o te TauMatariki ). The Maori New Year is a time of reflection, renewal, planning, and celebration. People gather to honor those who have passed on, feast with family, friends, and neighbors, and hope for a bountiful future.
What is Matariki?
Matariki is a cluster of stars that appears in the early morning sky from mid-June to early July (mid-winter months in New Zealand). Traditionally, It marked the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar, known as the Mataramaka. However, the exact start of the new year was determined by the first new moon following the appearance of the Matariki star cluster. The next appearance will be on Friday, June 20, 2025.
The group of stars can be seen throughout the world and at different times of the year. It is one of the brightest clusters in the sky, and in Maori, the brightest star is also called Matariki.
In English, this cluster borrows its name from the Greek name Pleiades (the Seven Sisters). In Hawaii, it’s called Makali’i, meaning” eyes of royalty,” and in Japan, it’s Subaru, meaning “gathered together.”
The significance of Matariki
As mentioned, Matariki’s reappearance brings the past year to a close. Traditionally, the star’s brightness was believed to have influenced the next season’s harvest. A bright star signified a bountiful harvest, with the planting season beginning in September. On the other hand, hazy stars warned of cold days ahead, and the planting season was postponed until October.
Also, each star is associated with different aspects of nature. They include:
- Matariki (Alcyone): The star that gives the cluster its name, symbolizing the beginning of the new year. It is associated with the health and well-being of the community.
- Taruheru (Electra): This star represents the land’s fertility and crops’ prosperity.
- Waipunarangi (Merope): Associated with rain and weather patterns, this star is linked to the seasons and their impact on farming.
- Waitī (Taygeta): This star is related to freshwater bodies and the fish that inhabit them, signifying the importance of water and its role in sustaining life.
- Waitā (Asterope): While Waitī represented freshwater bodies, Waitā represented the ocean and marine life. This star emphasizes the significance of the sea and its resources.
- Pōhutukawa (Calaeno): Often connected with the spirit world and the memory of ancestors, this star honors those who have passed away.
- Hiwa-i-te-rangi (Pleione): This star is associated with hopes for the coming year and personal goals.
How to celebrate Matariki
Traditionally, Matariki celebrations included lighting fires, honoring ancestors, celebrating loved ones by visiting their resting place (urupā), and enjoying life. Food stores would have been built by the Matariki period, so this was also a time to gather with family (whānau), share (kai) food, sing songs, play music, and tell stories.
Today, Maori New Year celebrations haven’t changed much, and they include:
- Feasting and gathering: Families and communities gather to share meals, often featuring traditional Māori foods and soup.
- Cultural performances: Festivals and events showcase Māori arts, including haka (dance), waiata (songs), and storytelling. These performances honor ancestors and celebrate Māori heritage.
- Reflection and renewal: Matariki is a time to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the future. It’s an opportunity to remember those who have passed, honor their contributions, and seek personal and communal growth.
- Educational workshops: Many communities host seminars and events that teach about Māori traditions, star navigation, and the significance of Matariki in Māori culture.
- Writing your wishes for the coming year: The Maori send their requests and wishes for the year to Hiwa. Your wishes should also include your whānau (family), hapori (community), and taiao (environment).
How to spot the Matariki
To find Matariki in the sky:
- Start by locating Tautoru (the Māori name for Orion’s Belt), easily identifiable by its three bright stars in a straight line.
- Look for Aldebaran (known as Taumata-kuku in Māori), a prominent reddish star in the constellation Taurus that marks the eye of the bull.
- Once you’ve found Tautoru and Taumata-kuku, look above and slightly to the right of Taumata-kuku to spot the Matariki cluster.
The stars appear as a small, tight group of stars. The cluster has over 1000 stars, but only six are visible to most people. Sharper-eyed observers may see more.
A cultural treasure
Matariki is a profound celebration that connects the Māori with their ancestors, family, community, and natural world. The appearance of the cluster in the winter sky ushers in a time of reflection, renewal, and communal harmony.
Whether you are familiar with the Māori traditions or just discovering them, Matariki offers you a chance to explore New Zealand’s rich cultural heritage. From stargazing to celebrating your loved ones, it invites everyone to celebrate the present and wish for a new year filled with hope, unity, and appreciation of our environment.
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