# Understanding Matariki – The Māori New Year

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**Matariki** is the Māori name for the cluster of stars known as the **Pleiades**, which reappears in the **midwinter skies** of Aotearoa (New Zealand) around **late June or early July**. The rising of Matariki marks the beginning of the **Māori New Year** — a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future.

In 2022, it became a **public holiday**, encouraging all New Zealanders to celebrate and learn from this rich cultural tradition.

Matariki is tied to the **creation story**. After the separation of **Ranginui (the sky father)** and **Papatūānuku (the earth mother)**, their child **Tāwhirimātea**, the god of winds and weather, was so heartbroken that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the sky. These became **Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea** – “the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea” – or Matariki.

**The Stars of Matariki**

| **Star** | **Represents** |
| --- | --- |
| **Matariki** | The mother star – health and wellbeing of people |
| **Pōhutukawa** | Those who have passed – remembrance |
| **Tupuānuku** | Food from the earth – crops, vegetables |
| **Tupuārangi** | Food from the sky – birds and forest fruits |
| **Waitī** | Freshwater and life within rivers and lakes |
| **Waitā** | Saltwater – the ocean and seafood |
| **Waipunarangi** | Rain and the water cycle |
| **Ururangi** | Wind and weather patterns |
| **Hiwa-i-te-rangi** | Aspirations and dreams – wishing for a prosperous year |

**How Māori Used Matariki to Guide the Year Ahead**

Matariki wasn’t just symbolic — it was **practical**. Tohunga would observe the stars to guide the community’s plans for the coming year:

· **Bright, clear stars:** A sign of **abundance** and a **good growing season** ahead.

· **Dim or blurry stars:** A warning of **hard times**, poor crops, or rough weather.

These readings would help whānau and hapū (families and sub-tribes) decide **when to plant, harvest, fish,** and prepare for seasonal changes. Matariki helped align daily life with **the natural rhythms of the environment.**

**Traditionally, Māori would:**

· **Clear the pātaka (food storehouses)** by holding a final feast.

· **Mourn and farewell the dead**, sending their names into the sky through karakia as Pōhutukawa rose.

· **Offer food to the stars**, especially to Matariki and her whānau, acknowledging their influence over the coming year.

· **Watch the sky** to determine environmental signs.

· **Feast, sing, and celebrate** together, marking a spiritual and social reset.

**Today, Matariki is celebrated by:**

· **Gathering with whānau** and communities to share kai.

· **Looking to the stars** in early morning ceremonies.

· **Reflecting on the year** that has passed and remembering loved ones.

· **Making wishes or setting intentions** for the future.

· **Engaging in cultural activities** like kapa haka, storytelling, arts, and waiata (song).

· **Resting, reconnecting, and resetting** – honouring both people and the environment.

**Matariki mā Puanga — Honouring the Many Pathways to the Māori New Year**

**Theme for 2025**

This year, Aotearoa celebrates the rising of the Māori New Year under the theme: "**Matariki mā Puanga**" — Matariki and Puanga.

This theme recognises and uplifts the unique **regional and iwi-specific ways** of marking the beginning of the new year, where some look to **Matariki** (the Pleiades cluster) and others to **Puanga** (Rigel in Orion’s belt) as their guiding star.

It is a reminder that **there is not just one single star**, or one single story, that leads us into the new year — but **many stars, many voices, and many ways of knowing.**

**Two Stars, One Purpose**

· In many parts of Aotearoa, **Matariki** is the **chief tohu (sign)** that the new year has arrived. Its rising in the early morning winter sky signals a time to **reflect, remember, gather, and prepare** for the year ahead.

· In regions such as **Whanganui, Taranaki, parts of the South Island**, and **Rēkohu (Chatham Islands), Puanga** is the prominent star seen first — often rising **earlier and brighter** than Matariki. Because of local geography or weather, **Matariki is harder to view**, so **Puanga becomes the key marker for the new year.**

This year’s theme acknowledges both — **Matariki mā Puanga**, side by side — a reflection of **unity in diversity**, and the importance of **mana whenua traditions and knowledge systems.**

**Why This Theme Matters**

· **It honours iwi autonomy and whakapapa.** Each iwi has its own stories, maramataka (calendar), and connection to the stars.

· **It teaches respect for difference.** Not all Māori celebrate in the same way — and that is a strength, not a division.

· **It invites us to listen.** By celebrating Matariki mā Puanga, we learn that Māori knowledge is deep, localised, and alive.

**How to Celebrate "Matariki mā Puanga"**

· **Learn your local traditions** – Who did the people of your area follow: Matariki, Puanga, or both?

· **Share kai** with your whānau and reflect on those who came before you.

· **Rise early** to see the stars and make a wish to **Hiwa-i-te-rangi** or acknowledge **Puanga’s guiding light.**

· **Uphold mana whenua leadership** in how Matariki is observed in your community.

· **Celebrate unity through story, waiata, art, and whanaungatanga.**

**He kupu whakamutunga – A Final Thought**

"E Matariki mā, e Puanga rā – arahina mai mātou i tēnei tau hou." O Matariki and Puanga, guide us into this new year..

**"Mānawatia a Matariki mā Puanga!"** Celebrate the many ways we welcome the Māori New Year.

Written by Derrin Thomas.