Mānawatia a Matariki

The appearance of Matariki in the morning sky in mid-winter marks the Māori New Year. Matariki is also known as the Pleiades. Matariki means “tiny eyes” or “eyes of god”. Matariki is a time for people to pause, gather to honour those who have passed, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. It’s a reminder time doesn’t only move forward — it moves in cycles, just like the stars. Matariki teaches us to slow down, reflect, reconnect with our roots, and live in tune with the seasons. This year’s theme is “Matariki mā Puanga” — a celebration of inclusion, diversity, and coming together as one.

The stars of Matariki

For our tīpuna/ancestors, astronomy was interwoven into all facets of life. Observations of star, planet sun, moon and other movements were recorded and handed down from generation to generation. This knowledge is connected to seasonal activities such as planting and harvesting, the flowering of plants, the spawning of fish, and the natural cycles of the environment.

Across different regions in New Zealand different stars signify the Māori New Year. For some Matariki marks the new year. For others, Puanga/Rigel is that star. Matariki and Puanga are both part of Te Waka o Rangi, the waka that carries the souls of those who passed away during the previous year.

Matariki is not only a time to reflect for all New Zealanders but also across the Te-Moana-nui-a-Kiwa/Pacific:

🌠In Hawai’i, the rising of Makaliʻi (Matariki) in the east falls in sync with the setting of the sun in the west marks the beginning of the Makahiki season and the Hawaiian new year.

🌠In Samoa, Mataalii (“eyes of the chiefs”) has a different origin story. The stars are the eyes of the seven chiefs who went to heaven after death, with only one eye of each being visible today.

🌠In Tonga it is known as “Mataliki”, while in Tahiti it is known as “Matari’i” with the year divided into two seasons: Matari’i above, which begins when the stars first appear on the horizon in the evening, and Matari’i below, when at sunset the stars were invisible.

So take time over the next few days to pause and reflect, connect with family and celebrate the abundance life offers 🙏🏼💫💖