Matariki

What is Matariki?
Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters; also what is referred to as the Traditional Maori New Year.
When is the Maori New Year?
The Maori New Year is marked by the rise of Matariki and the sighting of the next new moon. The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in the last few days of May every year and the New Year is marked at the sighting of the next new moon which occurs during June.

What does Matariki mean?
Matariki has two meanings, both referring to a tiny constellation of stars; Mata Riki (Tiny Eyes) and Mata Ariki (Eyes of God).

Why is Matariki important?
Traditionally, depending on the visibility of Matariki, the coming season's crop was thought to be determined. The brighter the stars indicated the warmer the season would be and thus a more productive crop. It was also seen as an important time for family to gather and reflect on the past and the future.

Why do we celebrate Matariki today?
Today Matariki means celebrating the unique place in which we live and giving respect to the land we live on.

For children Matariki is an important time to learn about whakapapa (ancestry), the land, the stars, and what it is to be Maori.
The Matariki stars were used to navigate, to keep time, know what season they were in, and to learn about the legends of the stars.
Learning about family and whakapapa was also very important around the time of Matariki. It was time to come together to exchange stories, learn about ancestors who have passed from this world to the next, and hand down knowledge and practices to ensure the Maori culture is preserved.
The land and the preserving of it was a big part of Matariki, crops were being planted for the next season, and learning about the land and forest was essential for everyone.

Matariki is a time when children can learn about and celebrate the unique culture that they are a part of through school, family and friends


School activities associated with Matariki...
• Matariki month/arts and crafts
• Maori history/legends classes
• Projects on star constellations
• Planting of vegetable garden and New Zealand plants exercises
• School play performances
• Family days surrounding Matariki
• Shared kai
• Whakapapa/family tree exercises
• School Hangi (Traditional Maori cooking) to celebrate the new moon/new year.

Matariki signals a time of coming together of family and friends, to share in food, festivities, and fun. Families gathered to perform songs and haka, weave, carve, and prepare food delicacies, hunt and fish.