Matariki

Te Tōnga a Matariki (The setting of Matariki)
2023-05-13
As the end of the Māori year approaches, the Matariki star cluster will begin to set with the sun in the Western sky. At this time Matariki isn’t visible. This occurs around the Tangaroa-ā-mua lunar phase during the star marama of Haratua (around 13 May). This period lasts around a month (a lunar cycle) until Matariki rises once again on the next Tangaroa-ā-mua lunar phase. This coincides with the date 10 July 2023 and is when most iwi observe Matariki rising.

Hei rau maharatanga – a time for rememberance

While Matariki is associated life, it also has a strong connection with death. The star Pōhutukawa in particular is associated with those whom have passed away. Once tohunga kōkōrangi have ascertained the Matariki signs for the year ahead, the community will gather together to mourn the dead.

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Manu Tukutuku Kite Day
2022-06-26 11:00 - 14:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Hamilton Gardens, Hungerford Crescent, Hamilton, Waikato, 3204, New Zealand
This free fun event encourages families (whānau) to share lessons in kite making and flying Manu tukutuku including Peter Lyn paper kites. Free Face painting, sausage sizzles and soup available.
There is also coffee and food available from the Gardens Café on site. A great event and wonderful day out for the whole whānau.

Rongoā Māori Workshop
2022-06-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Waitomo Glowworm Caves, 39 Waitomo Village road, Waitomo, Waikato, 3977, New Zealand
Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to the inaugural Matariki ki Waitomo celebrations at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
Gain a richer and deeper understanding of Maori rongoā (traditional medicine) from guest speakers who are a healing team based in Ngāti Maniapoto. Focusing on the power of healing, these casual and informative workshops will also share its modern applications and how rongoā is used in Waikato communities today. Each workshop is unique – so come along to one or both!
BOOK YOUR PLACE

Waitomo Art Exhibition
2022-06-25 09:30 - 15:30 | Waitomo Glowworm Caves, 39 Waitomo Village road, Waitomo, Waikato, 3977, New Zealand
Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to the inaugural Matariki ki Waitomo celebrations at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
Head along to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves Visitor Centre throughout the week to check out the local artists, weavers and carvers showcasing their craft. All of the artists involved are descendents of Tane Tinorau who first explored the caves in 1887.
With a diverse range of works on display inspired by the stories of Matariki, browse the exhibition and get up close to the traditional techniques used by the artists – you may even find a perfect piece to purchase and take home with you.

Matariki Public Holiday
2022-06-24
The first public holiday to celebrate Matariki will be on Friday 24 June 2022. The Government has committed to ensuring mātauranga Maori is at the heart of celebrations of the Matariki public holiday, and it will be a time for: Remembrance – Honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki.

The Rise of Matariki
2022-06-21 - 2022-06-24
The mark of a new year

Every winter the rising of the stars of Matariki (and Puaka (Puanga)) herald the end of the lunar year and the start of the next within the Māori world. Traditionally Māori viewed the rising of Matariki as the time to farewell those who have passed in the previous year, celebrate the arrival of the new year and prepare for the coming year in the custom of the local iwi. Specific customs can vary from iwi to iwi however they are commonly themed around new beginnings.
The rising of Matariki in the morning sky is observed in the month of Pipiri (around June and July) and although the first lunar phases of Whiro, Tirea under the star of Pipiri occur sooner (from 30 May 2022 this year), Matariki cannot be seen during the new moon phase. So most Māori iwi wait until the lunar phase of Tangaroa (the last quarter phase of the moon) to observe and celebrate Matariki. This is to take direction from the stars, to make a connection between the celebration and the environment. The idea is about responding to the environment, aligning with it rather than trying to shape it to suit ourselves.
Matariki’s rising this year of 2022 is considered to occur from 21 June to 24 June 2022.
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Matariki Market Day
2022-06-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Hamilton Gardens, Hungerford Crescent, Hamilton, Waikato, 3204, New Zealand
The Matariki Market Day is part of the 4 week festival of events and activities throughout Waikato.
It is driven by the not-for-profit trust called Te Ohu Whakaita to raise awareness around the Celebration of Matariki, the Maaori New Year.
The Matariki Market Day brings together Taonga Maaori, Kai and Live Entertainment in the hopes that it will provide an opportunity to connect communities and support the development of the creative economy in Waikato.

Puanga Festival - Parihaka
2022-06-11
Puanga Kai Rau Festival will once again be held at Parihaka Pā (Taranaki) this June!
Saturday, 11th June 2022 – please mark this date in your diary. We will light a fire, do some gardening and also enjoy the rising stars performing on the stage!
6am – Pūrepo – Karakia, waiata, poi
7am – Whakaohooho a Mahuika
7.30am – Kai o te ata
8am – Mahi Māra
10am – Kids Activities
12md – Kai o te rānui
1pm – Mahi Māra – Food Forest
3pm – Activities to be decided
5pm – Kai o Te Pō
6.30pm – Concert
What is Puanga?
Puanga (1) (or Rigel in English – the left foot of Orion) is a star constellation that, on it’s return and dawn rising above Maunga Taranaki, marks the Māori new year for Taranaki tribes. It’s a special time of year to remember and give thanks to our tupuna (ancestors) and recently departed loved ones. It’s also time to finish the harvest and prepare the soil and plants for the coming year. Puanga Kai Rau is about enjoying the end of harvest and sharing stories and songs with family and friends during the cold months of winter as we await the tangi of the pipiwharauroa and kawekawea who herald the return of spring.
From Wikipedia:
Rigel, also known by its Bayer designation Beta Orionis (β Ori, β Orionis), is the brightest star in the constellation Orion and the seventh brightest star in the night sky, with visual magnitude 0.13. The star as seen from Earth is actually a triple star system, with the primary star (Rigel A) a blue-white supergiant of absolute magnitude −7.84 and around 120000 times as luminous as the Sun. An Alpha Cygni variable, it pulsates periodically. Visible in small telescopes, Rigel B is itself a spectroscopic binary system, consisting of two main sequence blue-white stars of spectral type B9.
Reference: (1) http://www.puanga.com

Te Tōnga a Matariki (The setting of Matariki)
2022-05-23
As the end of the Māori year approaches, the Matariki star cluster will begin to set with the sun in the Western sky. At this time Matariki isn’t visible. This occurs around the Tangaroa-ā-mua lunar phase during the star marama of Haratua (around 23 May). This period lasts around a month (a lunar cycle) until Matariki rises once again on the next Tangaroa-ā-mua lunar phase. This coincides with the date 21 June 2022 and is when most iwi observe Matariki rising.

Hei rau maharatanga – a time for rememberance

While Matariki is associated life, it also has a strong connection with death. The star Pōhutukawa in particular is associated with those whom have passed away. Once tohunga kōkōrangi have ascertained the Matariki signs for the year ahead, the community will gather together to mourn the dead. Te Tirohanga (the viewing), Te Whakamahara i ngā mate (Remembering the dead) and Te Whāngai i ngā whētu (Feeding the stars) are outlined in our free eBook here and will be discussed more during upcoming days.
