The Māori new year is here. What is Matariki? - ABC Pacific

The moon moves into its last quarter phase this week, and in Aotearoa New Zealand, this means it is time for the celebration of Matariki – the Māori new year.

In Māori culture, this can mean a time to reflect on the past 12 months, celebrate the present and plan ahead. 

Professor Rangiānehu Mātāmua says Māori call it Matariki, a name for a cluster of well-known stars, but the connection those stars have across the globe is universal — and people sit at the core of Matariki.

"All cultures around the world have similar celebrations or similar approaches to connecting with our wider environment, and connecting back to our ancestral path.

"But importantly, Matariki is having a role to play in our modern society as we're using it to celebrate who we are now and who we want to be in the future," he said. 

Astronomer Dr Rangiānehu Mātāmua is the person widely credited with getting Matariki recognised as a public holiday.(livingbythestars.co.nz)What is Matariki?

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars in the night sky most commonly known as the Pleiades.

They disappear from view at the beginning of the winter months in the Southern Hemisphere. Then, in the middle of winter when the stars reappear in the pre-dawn sky, this signifies the start of Te Tau Hou Māori – or the Māori New Year.

The stars are among the closest star clusters to Earth.

Matariki was officially celebrated for the first time in 2022 as a public holiday, and became the nation's first Indigenous public holiday.

It is believed to be one of the first Indigenous celebrations to be recognised as a public holiday in a settler colonial state.

Some Māori say Matariki is the mother surrounded by her six daughters, Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipunarangi and Ururangi. (livingbythestars.co.nz)

"I think that shows the power of our traditional knowledge systems and I'm hoping that Indigenous peoples across the world are able to move towards reclaiming their traditional practices," Professor Mātāmua said.

This year Matariki falls on Friday July 14.

How is Matariki marked?

It can be a time of celebration, reflection, and spending time with whānau (family).

Matariki can be a time to farewell the dead, honour ancestors and celebrate life.

It's also a reminder of one's responsibility to the whenua (land) and environment.

While there's no one way to celebrate, many New Zealanders will spend time with loved ones over some kai (food).

The three major principles underpinning traditional Matariki celebrations are:

Remembrance — honouring those who have passed on, since the last rising of MatarikiCelebrating the present — gathering together with family and friends, andLooking to the future — looking forward to the promise of a new year Matariki is a time to gather with loved ones to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plant for the future.(Supplied: Te Papa)

While all iwi (tribes) celebrate the Māori New Year in June or July, some Māori refer to this period as Puanga rather than Matariki, as the star cluster is hard to see in some parts of the country. 

Stars an important part of ocean navigation for Pacific voyagers

Matariki was used by ocean navigators to guide them across the Pacific.

And today, there is a revival of these ancient navigation skills.

Navigators used stars and star clusters such as Matariki to help them  voyage across the Pacific ocean.

Many Island nations across the Pacific are revitalising ancient voyaging traditions.(Instagram @hokuleacrew)Matariki has different names around the world

Matariki, which can be seen from most parts of the globe at varying times, is also known by various names.

In Greek mythology, the Pleiades star cluster represents the "seven sisters". 

In Tahiti, the star cluster is known as Matari’i.

In Samoa, it is called Matali'i. 

In Tokelau, Niue, and Tuvalu it is Mataliki, and in Hawai'i, it is Makahiki.

In Hawai'i, this ancient new year festival starts when the star cluster rises over the horizon in Hawai'i at sunset, which falls around late October or early November each year. 

In Japan, it is called Subaru, which means "to come together" and in India, it is called Kṛttikā.

In other Pacific Islands, like the Cook Islands, New Caledonia and Marquesas, the star cluster has the same name as our Māori cousins — Matariki.