MÁNAWATIA A MATARIKI! CELEBRATE MATARIKI

‘WE ARE UNITED UNDER THE SAME SKY,’ JACINDA ARDERN. PRIME MINISTER, NEW ZEALAND.

“24TH JUNE 2022, FOR THE FIRST TIME, AOTEAROA MADE MATARIKI A PUBLIC HOLIDAY”

Matariki is the shortened version of the Maori name given to the cluster of stars, also known as the Pleiades. This cluster rises yearly in the predawn sky for the first time in June. For example, in 2022, the first rise was on the 24th of June.

Matariki is also the star’s name, which is considered the centre or the mother of the other eight stars. Each of the other eight relates to a specific thing: a reminder of loved ones who passed away, things harvested from the soil such as kumara, food grown above your head such as fruit, food that comes from freshwaters such as eels, food that comes from the sea such as shellfish, the rain, the wind and one to help you realise your aspirations. So each bright star at the rising of Matariki means the associated thing will be in abundance.

Maori communities celebrate the sight of the rising star cluster in the sky, starting from early June of each year for a few days. One traditional way to celebrate Matariki is to cook a hautapu; a pot containing food from each star. It is cooked outdoors, and the lid is lifted upon the appearance of the Matariki star cluster. The steam rises to the sky to feed the stars.

These celebrations were not regular in the past. But the event has recently gained an official recognition remembering the start of the Maori Year. There is a public holiday with nationwide celebrations. A government-appointed Mataraki Advisory Group will decide when the public holiday is and how the festivities will take place. New Zealand had its first Mataraki public holiday on the 24th of June, 2022. This new development prompted the P.M to say,’ We are united under the same sky.’

Wellington had its celebrations live streaming ‘matariki.net. nz’. The TVOne had a Houtapu Ceremony on Friday 24, from 6.00 am and fireworks from 7.15 pm. Porirua celebrated with events at Te Rauparaha Arena and Pátaka over the weekend. Think about how you can celebrate Matariki. Get up early and see the stars, think about which star your kai (food)is associated with, and set your aspirations for the coming year.

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