Lessons from the stars
As Aotearoa marks Matariki officially for the first time today, two leading Māori voices share what it means to them.
When you’re young, anything new is exciting. Like stargazing in the 1950s from the front lawn at Whakairi in Taheke, Hokianga.
Making up your own stories about space travel and wondering if someone will get to visit Rona, the maiden who cursed the Moon and was carried away to be a permanent resident in space. Not knowing that just over a decade later man would land on the Moon, but no sign of Rona.
That story was a way of teaching young minds the importance of heavenly bodies and their role in controlling life on Earth: the Moon (marama) being the most important celestial body for basic survival; when the fish and eels can be caught; when the birds will be fat and ready for the pot.
Everything in the sky told us a story about when we should be doing things. Including having a rest. Taking a break and giving the moana, awa and ngahere time to rest.
Puanga and Rehua come to play at this time every year. ‘‘Ka to¯ a Rehua, ka ara mai a Puanga’’ – When Rehua sets, Puanga rises. Time to think about shutting down the old year, getting rid of all the rubbish you are carrying, and planning exciting times ahead.
So that by the time Rehua sets again, and Takurua rises, you will have all your ducks in a row. You need to have your plans in place by June 26. That’s when, at 6am, Rehua will set on the west coast and Takurua will rise about 110 degrees in the east.
Well, that’s what some of us do. You can make up your own practice on how you farewell the old year and welcome in the new.
You might note I haven’t mentioned Matariki. That’s because on the west coast, we don’t use Matariki, simply because of our geographical location. Puanga is visible at least seven days before Matariki.
Matariki should have been visible on or about June 21 at 6am. It needs to rise above the sea haze for those at sea level.
Higher in the mountains it’s much clearer.
As a descendant of ocean navigators who watched stars rise and set in regular ordered patterns, and then used their collective knowledge to create a star map for waka travellers, it was easy to believe the stories we were told when growing up in Hokianga.
How Kupe navigated the vast oceans to make landfall at Te Puna I Te Ao Marama (Hokianga). It’s the stuff of legends, or you would think so.
Instead, it’s been turned into an arrival by accident, and not the amazing collective knowledge of understanding up to 800 types of winds, 200 cloud types, 150 rain types, more than 100 forms of Hinepukohurangi, or mist, and the myriad stars, that it should have been. Oh well, hei aha.
Kupe would pass on his knowledge to great-grandson Nukutawhiti, who would make that same journey with his nephew Ruanui in midSeptember 1054. Same star map. Same instructions. Same result. Finding Maui’s fish dangling from a celestial fishhook.
Fantasy stories for sure. Easily shelved and catalogued into the annals of myths and legends by those who don’t understand the transmission of oral histories. Fantastic stories that have survived for generations.
The more fantastic a story is, the more likely it is to be carried from one generation to the next, its secretive code hidden in a language that values short words with multiple interpretations. The journey of discovering new ways to connect with the stars is more fun when you have people at your side. To share ideas and insights. Not to mention all the fun and excitement when you first start out.
Many communities around the country are celebrating our first ‘‘Māori holiday’’ in their own way. Those who know the ancient traditions will continue their ancestors’ school of learning, passed down from generations ago. Nothing new to them, quietly celebrating year after year in relative anonymity, fearful of the ridicule that was inflicted on their elders for practising these ‘‘pagan’’ rituals.
But not any more. Suddenly they can hold their heads high. Overjoyed about leading the current generation on a journey to recapture and restore ancient Māori knowledge systems.
‘‘About time too,’’ some might say. While others are grateful to be part of a new generation that values, enjoys and builds unbreakable bonds that connect us all to each other and to Mother Earth.
That’s what stargazing can do for you. To imagine that distant horizons can be reached. Te patu o te rangi, the oldies would say, the outer extremities of the known universe.
Yep, the mind is one powerful teacher. Enjoy whatever you do. Mauri ora.
Māori astronomer Rereata Makiha was a member of the Matariki Working Group.
‘‘That’s what stargazing can do for you. To imagine that distant horizons can be reached.’’