What is Puanga?

Matariki is a cluster of stars (also known as Pleiades) which is to the left of Tautoru, the three stars of Orion's Belt.

However, some iwi struggle to see Matariki clearly from their region in the late autumn and early winter night sky, so they look to Puanga, the next important star nearest Matariki.

Puanga is the star Rigel, the brightest in the Orion constellation.

Source: Te Papa Tongarewa | Museum of New Zealand Read more: www.tepapa.govt.nz/ search/Puanga