Project Twin Streams Glen Eden | Matariki Planting Day
Photo credit: Project Twin Streams
Matariki is the Māori name for the small cluster of stars in the Taurus constellation that rise during the New Zealand winter. Matariki has always been an important time in the Māori calendar. For early Māori, Matariki was strongly connected to the seasons and was an indicator of the forthcoming year.
Matariki means ‘eyes of the god’ or ‘little eyes’. Some say that when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were separated by their children, the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became angry, tearing out his eyes and hurling them into the heavens. Others say Matariki is the mother surrounded by her six daughters.
The Māori New Year signals a time for connecting with, and giving thanks to, the land, sea and sky. It’s also a time for the community to farewell those departed and acknowledge the year gone by, and to turn to the future and celebrate new beginnings.
For many Māori, the first new moon after the rise of the Matariki signals the start of the New Year celebrations. In 2014, the Matariki Festival in Auckland will see the city come alive with live music performances, Kapa Haka, theatre, poetry, family events, dance and art.
Te Papa, Wellington’s famous museum, hosts Matariki celebrations with a 25-day programme that includes concerts, astronomy sessions and talks.
On the South Island, the Puaka Matariki Festival is held in Dunedin in July, with celebrations and events including storytelling, whānau ‘have a go’ sessions, lantern parades, contemporary dance and a midwinter carnival.
Matariki is all about getting involved so join the celebrations taking place throughout the country and help celebrate the Māori New Year.
In 2014, Matariki will start on the 28th June.
What is Matariki?
Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster known as the Pleiades. Traditionally for Māori when it appeared just before dawn in late May or early June, it signalled the start of the Māori New Year. For some tribes, the rising of Puanga (Rigel in Orion) signals the start of the New Year. In the early 2000s Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), the Ministry of Education and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, became involved in the revival of Matariki celebrations.
Different tribes celebrated Matariki at different times. For some it was when Matariki rose in May/June. For others it was celebrated at the first new moon, or full moon, following the rising of Matariki. In the 21st century it is the new moon following the rising of Matariki that signals the New Year.
Where to find Matariki events
Eventfinda, an events calendar website lists activities taking place around New Zealand.
Matariki Events, a national events calendar, is a New Zealand Māori Tourism project.
Te Papa’s Matariki festival runs from 01 June to 30 July 2014.
Auckland Council’s Matariki Festival
Christchurch City Libraries’s Matariki events
New Zealand Māori Tourism’s website
Te Taiopenga o Matariki ki Te Papa.
from http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/matariki
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