Matariki - Māori New Year

Known in other cultures by names including the Pleiades and the Seven Sisters, the rise of the star cluster Matariki heralds the beginning of the Aotearoa Pacific New Year according to the lunar calendar.

Matariki may be translated as mata riki – tiny eyes, or Mata Ariki – eyes of God.
The eyes are thought to watch over the land and its people. Matariki (Pleiades) is a small but distinctive star cluster that drops below the horizon in April and reappears in June.

Matariki tribal celebrations are held at different times by different tribes. For some, feasts are held when it is first seen. For others, it is the full moon after it rises that is celebrated and for others, celebrations are centred on the dawn of the next new moon. Each winter the stars of Matariki and Puanga signal the end of one year and the beginning of the next. Matariki is visible to the naked eye on a clear winter evening after the full moon from early to late June each year.

There are many stories about its cultural significance as a navigational star and also as an indication of bountiful harvests. Some iwi believe Matariki is the mother surrounded by her six daughters.

The reappearance signifies a time to prepare, to share ideas, to remember the past and celebrate the future. Its about giving respect to the whenua on which we live, and admiration to our mother earth Papatuanuku. Throughout Matariki we learn about those who came before us: our history, our family, our bones.

Matariki signals growth. It’s a time of change, a time to prepare and a time of action. During Matariki we acknowledge what we have and what we have to give.
Matariki celebrates the diversity of life. It’s a celebration of culture, language, spirit and people.

The physical appearance of the stars in the sky was used by tohunga (priest or expert) as a forecast of the year ahead - clear and bright signalled warm and productive, whereas hazy or shimmering meant a cold winter was in store and ground for crops must be prepared accordingly.

In pre-Pakeha times mahi whai (Māori string patterns) were used to illustrate the stories of the stars. Mahi whai were used to recreate patterns seen in the night sky. Through the patterns the stories and cosmology were remembered and knowledge passed on.

Other cultures

Other cultures and peoples also recognise Matariki as a major indicator of seasonal change. Sailors in the pacific and ancient Greece used the star cluster as a navigational aid. In Hawai’i the cluster is known as the Makali’i and they signalled the start of the Makahiki festival, dedicated to the god of rain and agriculture.

The Japanese know the constellation as subaru – meaning ‘united’ or ‘getting together’. The carmaker also uses the cluster as the logo for its Subaru vehicles.

The Aztec called Matariki Tianquiztl, meaning market place or gathering place.

In Egypt the stars are known as Chu and are said to represent the ‘divine mother and lady of heaven’ the Goddess Net or Neith.

Other Matariki traditions

Kites

Kites were seen as connectors between heaven and earth, and were often flown at this event, especially on the first day of the New Year.

Feasting / Kai

Preparing a meal for friends and whanau is traditional at Matariki. It is a time when food stores were full – kumara and other root foods had been gathered, fish were migrating so catches were good,and other foods such as eel (tuna) and birds had been preserved. See our page on traditional kai.

Whakapapa

A focus on our whakapapa during Matariki gives us a better understanding of who we are, where we have come from and where we are going. It is also a great way to bring whānau together to share stories and knowledge.

Some suggested activities during Matariki are:

• Start your own whakapapa chart or book.
• Organise time to bring grandparents and grandchildren together to share stories.
• Record oral histories on tape or video.
• Create something to remember those who have recently passed on.
• Clear the weeds from whānau graves and tidy up the cemetery.
• Organise an iwi, hapū or whānau gathering during Matariki to learn whakapapa.

For more information

Online resources

• Christchurch City Libraries - Matariki events
• The Matariki night sky
• Matariki, explained by Rakiihia Tau
  Rakiihia Tau is Upoko of Ngai Tuahuriri. He explains Matariki in terms of what it meant for the life of Southern Māori and puts it in the context of the year long cycle of mahinga kai.
• Te Ara / The New Zealand Encyclopedia:
  • Matariki including audio and video resources
  • Maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar
• Matariki word search and crossword
• For Matariki 2007, Christchurch singer-songwriter Ariana Tikao released a beautiful new waiata "Matariki" available as a free download on her myspace site

Resources in our libraries

Search for Matariki titles in our catalogue.

• Aotearoa Pacific New Year Matariki, celebrating matariki with activities, recipes and family events.
• The astronomical knowledge of the Maori : genuine and empirical : including data concerning their systems of astrogeny, astrolatry, and natural astrology, with notes on certain other natural phenomena by Elsdon Best, 1922
• Matariki: the Māori New Year by Libby Hakaraia

Matariki on the web

Matariki

Background to the celebration of the appearance of Matariki, (the star cluster Pleiades) that heralds the start of the Aotearoa Pacific New Year, and its importance to Māori and Pacific people and other cultures around the world. Includes Māori astronomical names and links to Astronomical websites.

Auahi Kore Matariki

Includes information and Matariki resources

Days in a moon month

Find out the Maori names for the days of the moon's cycle and the favoured times for activities such as fishing and planting. From Te Papa

Māori Star and Constellation Names

M45, the Pleiades

from the Anglo-Australian Observatory

Matariki

from Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, includes audio and video resources

Matariki @ TKI

This TKI Hot Topic provides material to support the teaching of both of these topics in a classroom.

Matariki at Christchurch City Libraries

Matariki at Te Papa

Te Papa hosts a large number of Matariki activities and events.

Matariki Booklet

This booklet was published in 2001 by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori to provide information and ideas about Matariki and how to identify and celebrate it in contemporary Aotearoa.

Matariki Festival

Months of the Matariki Calendar

Traditionally for Māori the new year began in June, and divisions of the year were based on lunar months. From Te Papa

Pleiades Star Cluster

from the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day archive

Taatai Arorangi

An introduction to Māori star lore, Māori star names, and star charts showing Māori constellations. Explanations of various customs associated with Māori astronomy as relates to the planting and harvesting of crops are also included.