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 “eyes of god” from the ariki Tawhirimātea who threw shards of his eyes into the heavens, according to Māori cosmology, following the separation of his parents. 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
