Matariki - Māori

Hello, I am Matariki, the Māori New Year. My arrival is a special and important time in the land of Aotearoa New Zealand. I don't appear on a fixed calendar date. Instead, my beginning is signaled by the natural world. Each year in mid-winter, a bright and beautiful cluster of stars rises in the eastern sky just before the dawn. This star cluster is my namesake, also called Matariki. For thousands of years, people have looked to the sky to see these stars, knowing that my time has come. In other parts of the world, this same group of stars is known by different names, such as the Pleiades, but here, it marks the start of a new year.

One of my most important purposes is to provide a quiet and thoughtful time for remembrance. When my stars first become visible again in the winter sky, it is a sign for people to gather and honor their ancestors. Families come together to remember loved ones who have passed away during the year that has just ended. It is a time for sharing treasured stories about them, reflecting on the lessons they taught, and acknowledging the deep connection that remains between the living and those who have gone before. This act of remembering helps keep the memories of ancestors alive and strengthens the bonds of family through generations.

While I am a time for looking back, I am also a time to celebrate the present and show gratitude for all that the world provides. My appearance in the sky happens after the main harvest has been gathered and the storehouses are full. This makes it the perfect moment for communities to come together and celebrate their hard work and the bounty of the land and sea. People celebrate me by preparing and sharing special meals, with food from the recent harvest playing a central role. These gatherings are filled with joy, as people sing songs, tell stories, play traditional games, and simply enjoy spending time with family, friends, and neighbors.

In addition to remembering the past and celebrating the present, I am a time for looking toward the future with hope and intention. In the past, Māori experts known as tohunga would carefully observe my stars. The brightness and clarity of each star helped them predict the conditions for the coming year. They could forecast whether the next harvest would be plentiful and what the weather might be like. Today, this tradition of planning for the future continues in new ways. People celebrate me by setting new goals for themselves, making plans for the year ahead, and thinking about what they want to achieve. It is also a popular time for planting new trees and crops, a hopeful act that represents new beginnings and growth.

The Matariki star cluster that signals my arrival is traditionally seen as a family. The central star, whose name is also Matariki, is considered the mother, and she is surrounded by her eight children. According to these traditions, each of these stars has a special role and a connection to a different part of the environment. For example, the star Pōhutukawa is connected to the spirits of those who have passed away, watching over them. Another star, Tupuānuku, is tied to all the food that is grown within the ground, like sweet potatoes, or kūmara. A third star, Ururangi, is connected to the winds, influencing their nature and direction. Observing this family of stars helps people feel connected to the entire natural world.

For a period in history, my celebrations became less common across New Zealand. Old traditions were not practiced as widely, and my importance faded for many. However, in recent times, a powerful movement began. Māori communities worked hard to research and restore my customs, leading a revival of my traditions and teachings. They shared this knowledge, and more and more people began to observe me again. This effort was so successful that my significance was officially recognized by the whole country. On June 24th, 2022, I was celebrated as an official public holiday in New Zealand for the very first time. Now, everyone has the opportunity to learn about me, take part in my traditions, and share in the meaning of remembering, celebrating, and looking to the future.