Matariki

"Nga Whetu o te Tau Hou"

Rising just above the horizon in the winter months of May and June, Matariki — the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades — marks the beginning of the Maori New Year. Her return to the sky heralds a sacred time of renewal, reflection, and regeneration — a celestial signal that the old season has closed and a new cycle of life is dawning.

Ka puta Matariki ka rere Whānui, ko te tohu tēnā o te tau e!

The appearance of Matariki is not only a celebration of new beginnings, but also a time to honour those who have passed. As she rises, we remember our loved ones who departed since her last ascent — calling their names into the pre-dawn sky and acknowledging their journey beyond the veil. It is a time of deep whakaaro (comtemplation and reflection), of mourning and remembrance, but also of healing and hope.

Matariki invites us to gather as whanau, hapu, and iwi — to share in kai, korero, and ceremony. It is a time to express gratitude for the harvest, to care for one another, and to reaffirm the values that bind us: aroha, manaakitanga, kotahitanga, kaitiakitanga. It is also a time to plan ahead — to consider how we live in balance with the natural world and to pass on matauranga (values) that sustains both people and planet.

In the brilliance of Matariki, we are reminded that life moves in cycles. With each return, we are offered a chance to reflect, reconnect, and realign — to live with purpose, to nurture the land, and to continue the stories of our people with renewed energy and light.