As the winter night sky lights up with hot blue stars, signalling the start of Maori New Year, a month-long celebration commences in New Zealand.Matariki is the Maori name given to the cluster of stars appearing in the tail of the Milky Way. The Pleiades or the Seven Sisters in the Taurus constellation can be sighted towards the end of May or early June on the northeastern horizon in New Zealand. Often associated with the winter solstice, Matariki was celebrated at different times by different Maori tribes. While some held festivities when the Seven Sisters were first spotted, others celebrated after the full moon rose or at the beginning of the next new moon. Today, the new moon after the rising of Matariki signals the Maori New Year.In early years, the Maori were keen observers of the night sky. The season’s crops were planted according to the Matariki star cluster. If the stars were bright and clear, it was an indication of a productive season, and if cluster appeared dense, planting was delayed until October. For Maori, the rise of Matariki signified remembrance, fertility and celebration. It is a time to remember the dead and celebrate new life. It is also a time to thank the land, the sea and the sky. At the start of the 21st century, it gained prominence again, and kites, hot-air balloons and fireworks now mark the occasion.
Legend has it...
Matariki means ‘eyes of God’ or ‘little eyes’.
Maori mythology tells the story of Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatuanuku, the earth mother, who had several children while remaining in an embrace. The children grew up living in darkness. Frustrated, they conspired to separate them by forcingRanginui above and Papatuanukubelow. This angered Tawhirimatea, the God of winds, and in a fit of rage, he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.
Another traditional account is that Matariki is the mother surrounded by her six daughters, Tupu-a-nuku, Tupu-a-rangi, Waiti, Waita, Waipuna-a-rangi and Ururangi, who appear to assist the sun, Te Ra, as his winter journey from the North has weakened him.
The festivities
This year, Matariki started on June 18 and the festival will run till July 19. Traditionally, Matariki was celebrated with family gatherings as they reflected on the past. The Maori kite (pakau) played a significant role in the celebrations, as according to ancient customs, the kites fly close to the stars. Although the celebrations gradually dwindled towards 1940s, it revived at the beginning of the 21st century, and today, with its growing importance, it celebrates Maori culture.
Auckland’s Matariti Festival is packed with live performances, theatre, poetry, dance, art, food, family events and KapaHaka. Watch the world premiere of Romeo rauakoHurieto—adaptation of the classic Shakespearean love story—that will be performed live at Auckland Museum’s Maori Court. The museum will also play host to the Matariki art market that celebrates Maori artists, musicians and performers.
Matariki is a time to reflect on the rich Maori history and culture. The first modern-day Matariki was celebrated in Hastings in 2000 with 500 people. In 2013, the number increased to 15,000. Each year, Matariki has a theme and this year, it is ‘He rautangata, he koingoaroha’, meaning, ‘people gather and affirm love in a myriad of ways’.