EXPLORE / TŪHURA learning intentions:

• We are EXPLORING Matariki and it's importance to New Zealand today
• We are RECOGNISING how Matariki encourages our understanding of the solar system and stars

Matariki

The Nine Stars of Matariki 

Many have come to believe there are in fact nine stars that form Matariki. The stars, rather than being viewed  as a whole, are seen as individuals. Each star holds influence over the environment in a unique way and a study  of the stars can bring insight to the year ahead. The stars are in balance with one another and each is positioned  significantly. 

The Nine Stars of Matariki 

1. Matariki (Alcyone) 

I am a star that signifies reflection of time past. I represent a connection to the  environment and herald a time for people to gather together. I am a symbol of  hope and encourage your connection with the environment and with each other. 

2. Pōhutukawa (Sterope/Asterope) 

I am the star that cradles the memories of those loved ones that we have lost. I  am a symbol of connection to the past and to the ancestors who have gone before  us. I sit away from those associated with food to preserve the noa of the kai.  Look upon me and remember and acknowledge those who have led you on the path  you are on. 

3. Waitī (Maia) 

I am the star that shines for all sources of fresh water and the life within. I  shine for ngā awa, ngā roto, ngā kūkūwai and ngā waipuna. When I shine bright,  the waters will sustain land and man alike. 

4. Waitā (Taygeta) 

I am the star that symbolises all sources of salt water as well as those that  dwell within it. I discover new life within these waters even after all this time.  Te Moana-nui-o-Kiwa and Te Tai-o-Rehua are filled with a wonder of plant  life, whāngote and ika. Respect, preserve and protect our coasts and oceans and  the ocean dwellers for they are a great taonga. 

5. Waipuna-ā-rangi (Electra) 

I am the star associated with life-giving rain in all forms – ua nganga (hail),  hukarere (snow), haupapa (sleet), pūroro (driving rain) and hāuaua and everything  in-between. The healthy cycle of the earth is reliant on the arrival of the rains  and at the mercy of the waters from the sky. 

6. Tupuānuku (Pleione) 

I am the star with an interest of all that grows in the ground that can be  harvested, gathered and used as sustenance. Well-nourished, and sustaining soil is  essential to all that grows. Honour Papatūānuku with your plantings, plant only  those which you need and tend them well. 

7. Tupuārangi (Atlas) 

I am the star that is linked with the trees, forests, fruits, berries and birds.  I associate with the realm of Tānemahuta. Our native forest dwellers – ngā  manu, ngā mokomoko, ngā ngārara and ngā kararehe need our protection as  do our mighty rākau. Your role in their preservation is to act as kaitiaki. 

8. Ururangi (Merope) 

I am closely tied with the moods of Tāwhirimatea and te whānau puhi. Hauraro, Tonga,  Hauāuru and Marangai can cool you on a day when Tamanuiterā is sending forth his intense  heat and they can bring destruction and challenge when Tāwhirimatea commands a storm. 

9. Hiwaiterangi/Hiwa (Celaeno) 

I am the star to be wished upon. I am the youngest star of the nine and  represent the hopes and aspirations to be carried forth to the coming year. Along  with Pōhutukawa, I represent a status of the sacred and tapu and, therefore, sit  apart from those stars that represent aspects of kai and sustenance. Hold fast to  your dreams and aspirations and focus on those pathways that will lead you in  those directions.  

Matariki Fact Hunt Questions 

(Answer questions in Google Classroom)

• How many stars make up the Matariki cluster?
• What other name is there for the star called Matariki? What does it symbolise?
• Pōhutukawa is also called by what other name? What does Pōhutukawa symbolise?
• What is the other name for the star known as Waitī? What does it represent?
• What does the star Waitā represent?
• What other name is there for the star known as Waipuna-ā-rangi? What does it symbolise?
• What is the te reo Māori name for the star called Pleione and what does it symbolise?
• What is the te reo Māori name for the star named Atlas and what is it linked to?
• What is the te reo Māori name for the star known as Merope and what does it relate to?
• What 3 other names are there for the star called Hiwa-te-rangi? What is special about this star?
• When is the Māori New Year celebrated?
• What does the word Matariki mean?
• What does one myth say the stars of Matariki are?
• Is Matariki a star cluster or constellation?
• What does the star Puanga signal in some places around New Zealand?
• What would bright and clear Matariki stars once indicate?

Matariki

Matariki is one of the most important Māori celebrations - it is the Māori New Year.  Matariki can be translated as: Mata Riki – Tiny Eyes or Mata Ariki – the Eyes of God.

Matariki is the Māori name for a small group of stars. It is the shoulder of Taurus the bull, a constellation of stars.

Did you know? Māori believed that if the stars in the cluster were clear and bright, it would be a warm season with a lot of food. If Matariki looked hazy or shimmering, then it would be a cold and difficult season.

Before Māori had calendars, they tracked time by using events like the flowering of plants or the movement of stars in the sky. When Matariki reappears in the sky in late May or early June, it is the Maori New Year and it is a sign of a change in season to winter.

Matariki was celebrated at the end of the harvest season. It was a time when the pātaka kai (storage house) was full of food. During the celebration, there were big Hākari (feasts). People came together to remember the past, their ancestors and to learn about their whakapapa (ancestry). Māori would plan for the future and prepare the whenua (land) for planting. Whānau (family) would come together and share songs, traditions and stories.

Now, Matariki is a time to celebrate Aotearoa and everything Māori. We can learn about our land and our whakapapa. Matariki is celebrated through education, remembrance and the planting of new trees and crops. It is a sign of new beginnings. 

Lots of celebrations focus on music, songs, dance, food and family. You can celebrate in traditional Māori ways or choose your own way to celebrate.