19/06/2025
We have an amazing mix of cultures, both staff and participants. We want to acknowledge tomorrow being the Maori New Year also known as Matariki. Here is some information about what it means and how you can celebrate.
:✨ Matariki: A Time of Stars, Whānau, and New Beginnings ✨
Matariki, the Māori New Year, is a sacred time marked by the rising of a star cluster known as Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea—the Eyes of the God Tāwhirimātea. These nine stars are not just points in the night sky but spiritual beings that guide the rhythms of life. Each star has a name and meaning:
• Matariki – the mother star, symbolising health and wellbeing
• Pōhutukawa – honours those who have passed
• Tupuānuku – connected to food grown in the soil
• Tupuārangi – linked to food from the sky, like birds and fruit
• Waitī – associated with freshwater
• Waitā – linked to the ocean and seafood
• Waipunarangi – tied to rain and weather
• Ururangi – connected to the winds
• Hiwa-i-te-Rangi – the wishing star, tied to dreams and aspirations
Since 2022, New Zealand has honoured Matariki with a national public holiday, giving all Kiwis a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate. For Māori, Matariki is not just a celestial event—it’s a deeply cultural time for remembrance, celebration, and planning for the future.
Different iwi (tribes) across Aotearoa have unique traditions. Some look to other stars in the sky. Others time their Matariki celebrations by the lunar calendar or local environmental signs. Despite these differences, all agree that Matariki is a time to gather with whānau (family) and remember ancestors, share kai, tell stories, and make wishes for the year ahead.
Celebrations include dawn ceremonies, kapa haka performances, feasts, fireworks, lantern festivals, and star-gazing events across the country. In many marae, families return home to reconnect and honour those who have passed.
Matariki brings people together under the stars—a chance to reflect on the past, enjoy the present, and dream of what’s to come. 🌌🌿
