Matariki

As the colder months settle over New Zealand, a small cluster of stars begin to rise. For many New Zealanders, this cluster of stars signals the arrival of Matariki, the Māori New Year. Matariki is more than just a public holiday. It is a time to remember those who have passed and celebrate with family. Rich in history, art, storytelling, and whakapapa, Matariki connects people with one another, their ancestors, and the natural world, making the holiday an important part of New Zealand’s cultural identity.

Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars that is internationally known as the Pleiades. The cluster appears in the eastern sky before sunrise during midwinter months, and marks the beginning of the Māori New Year. However, historically, Matariki was much more than just the start of a new year. Within Māori communities, it was a time to remember those who have passed since the previous Matariki, celebrate the present, and look forward to the coming year. Additionally, the stars also acted as indicators for the coming year. Their brightness was believed to predict the quality of the upcoming harvests and fishing seasons. Although the settlement of Europeans in New Zealand caused many traditions that surrounded Matariki to decline, Māori and iwi communities have continued to preserve the traditions. In more recent decades, there has been a large revival and in June 2022 Matariki became the first public holiday that recognised Māori culture and traditions in New Zealand. 

In Māori culture, people are connected to not only their ancestors but also to the natural world, rivers, stars, mountains, and oceans. Matariki reminds people of these connections. One well-known Matrikia tradition tells the story of the wind god, Tāwhirimātea, who grieving after his parents were separated, tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens, where they became the stars of Matariki. Today, many people recognise the nine stars and what different aspects of the natural world each represent. Matariki is the first of the stars, known as the mother, and represents wellbeing, health, and good fortune. The second star is Pōhutukawa, which is connected to the dead and meant to represent remembrance. The third is, Tupuānuku which is often associated with food grown in soil. Tupuārangi, is the fourth star and represents food that is gathered from the sky and is linked to birds. Waitī, the fifth star, is connected to fresh water and the living creatures within it. The sixth star, Waitā, is associated with the ocean and represents food gathered from it. The seventh star, Waipuna-ā-rangi represents rain. Ururangi, the eighth star, represents the winds. Finally, the ninth star, Hiwa-i-te-rangi, is connected to the promise of a prosperous season. All together the nine stars demonstrate how closely Māori culture connects people with the environment. 

Matariki is celebrated through many forms of art and cultural expression. This includes songs, kapa haka performances, contemporary Māori art, storytelling, light displays, and carving and weaving. In addition to those, traditional celebrations often included preparing large feasts after successful harvests, while today, modern celebrations blend the traditional customs with contemporary events such as educational programmes, light shows, and community festivals. Art allows stories, history, and whakapapa to be passed from one generation to the next. 

Regardless of cultural background, Matariki has become an important celebration for many New Zealanders. The holiday encourages people to slow down during winter, spend time with family and friends, reflect on the year, honour passed loved ones, and appreciate nature and the environment. Unlike many holidays, which are the focus of commercial celebrations, Matariki centres around the connection, remembrance, and hope it conveys. For Māori communities, it represents the continuation of traditions that have existed for centuries. Moreover, it offers an opportunity to non-Māori New Zealanders to learn about the country’s Indigenous history.

Before writing this, I knew very little about Matariki being born and raised outside of New Zealand. I viewed it as just another public holiday without knowing the reason for why it was. The research I did for this, helped me learn the true meaning behind the holiday and appreciate it in a new light. Matariki is a time for reflection, remembering loved ones, and looking towards the future. Understanding the meaning behind Matariki can help people see why it is such an important celebration across New Zealand.