Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster commonly known as Pleiades and Subaru. When Matariki rises in the northern-eastern skies in the morning of the Tangaroa moon phase in the seasons of Tahi-o-pipiri or Ruhanui, it signals the start of the Māori New Year.

Māori follow the lunar calendar which is based on the monthly cycles of the moon’s phases. That means each year the exact day will change (like Easter) The official Matariki day (public holiday) in 2022 is (in Te Arawa) Ōtāne o Tahi-o-Pipiri, Friday 24 June 2022.

Photo credit - Matariki and her children in the sky. Rights Te Haunui Tuna 2016.

E ai ki a Dr Rangi Matamua

Waipuna-ā-rangi - Watches the skies, rains, snows, sleets which nourishes the earth and contributes to the water cycles.

Ururangi - Is the winds of N,E,S,W.

Tupu-ā-rangi - Represents cultivation from above: forests, birds, trees.

Tupu-ā-nuku - Represents cultivation from the earth: kawakawa, kumara, healthy soil etc.

Waitī - Watches over the fresh water environments and everything living in it. Creaks, rivers, lakes, springs which then flow into Waitā.

Waitā - Represents the salt waters. Seas, oceans and everything living in it.

Hiwa-i-te-rangi - Is known as the wishing star. Where you cast all your dreams and hopes for the new year.

Pohutakawa - Is the star of remembering our passed ancestors. Our family and friends who have died.

Matariki - Is the mother of the cluster and encourages gathering of all people.

As you can see, each environmental star has a male/female adjacent. Giving a masculine and feminine balance, without one, there is no other.

They're also strategically placed, Waitī (freshwater) flows down from the mountains into Waitā (Saltwater) which is why the freshwater star is above the saltwater.

Waipuna-a-rangi (rain) falls from the sky but can be manipulated by Ururangi (winds).

Same can be said about Tupu-ā-rangi being above Tupu-ā-nuku.

Matariki symbolizes Māori new year under the Māramataka - Lunar Calendar. The more accurate than the Gregorian Calendar.

The word Matariki comes from Ngā Mata o te Ariki, Tāwhirimātea (The eyes of the chief, Tāwhirimātea).

Tāwhirimātea (the atua of the wind) was so upset that his parents (Ranginui and Papatuānuku) were separated by Tāne Mahuta (Atua of the forest) that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the sky, creating Matariki.

Matariki was also used by early Polynesian navigators to make their way across Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa (Pacific Ocean).

How to celebrate Matariki?

Gather your friends and whānau. Eat together. Remember those you have lost that passed year. Talk about your dreams and aspirations for the future. Get your land ready for the coming year. Go and see the cluster - best seen at sunrise.

Disclaimer: Some narratives will differ slightly depending on the area of tribe.

Traditonally Māori would have a ceremony which are commonly called, whangai i ngā whetū, whangai i te hautapu and te umu kohukohu whetū. Where they would prepare the best of the harvest from the year and make a meal to feed the atua, the stars. There have been few of these traditional ceremonies around the country, but there has been a resurgence in recent years. And many hapū, iwi, city’s and towns are now having private and civic ceremonies to mark the occasion.

If there are no iwi, hapū or civic ceremonies near you, you may want to:

• Create a karakia with your whānau

• Acknowledge your loved ones on their journey to Matariki

• Make a feast and share with friends and whānau

• Give thanks to the atua

• Send wishes to Hiwa-i-te-rangi

• Plant a tree

• Make a vison board and plan for the new year