Every year, around June, a cluster of stars called Matariki appears in the sky just before dawn. In Te Reo, the name “Matariki” means “Tiny Eyes,” while “Mata Ariki” translates to “the Eyes of God.” This cluster is also known as the “Seven Sisters.”

The rising of the Matariki stars held great significance for the Māori people long ago. When a cluster of stars appeared in the sky, they eagerly awaited the next full moon, shining big, round, and brighter than ever. With the sighting of the full moon, the people of Aotearoa began their celebrations for the Māori New Year.

In the past, this time was marked by feasting and storing the summer harvest to prepare for the long winter ahead. Since there was no electricity in Aotearoa, people constructed their storehouses, known as Pātaka, to keep their harvest safe. All their food, or kai, came from the sea (moana) or the land (whenua), and they worked diligently to produce a good harvest.

Pātaka Storehouse (Source: DigitalNZ)

Plenty of kai (food) was stored in the storehouses, which meant it was time to feast, sing, and dance. It was also a time to remember the ancestors (tīpuna). The ancient Māori storehouses were built on four posts or stilts to keep them off the ground. Sweet potatoes (kumara) and pumpkins were among the vegetables kept in these storehouses.

Matariki Stars (Source: museumswellington.org.nz)

Māori also preserved game birds in gourds, cooking the birds in their fat to ensure their longevity. The gourds and storehouses were handmade and beautifully decorated with carvings and weaving patterns.

Flying kites was also an ancient custom, as people believed that the kites could flutter close to the stars.

Māori Kite (Source: The British Museum)

According to Māori tradition, their children separated Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother. In a rage, Tāwhirimātea, the god of wind, tore out his eyes and threw them into the sky. It is believed that his eyes became the Matariki stars—known as the eyes of the god.

Gourd (Source: teara.govt.nz)

A decade ago, most New Zealanders were unaware of Matariki. However, on June 24, 2022, Aotearoa, New Zealand, celebrated Matariki for the first time as an official public holiday. This marked the second public holiday established to recognize Te Ao Māori since Waitangi Day became one in 1974. Matariki is now significant for its cultural heritage and New Zealand’s present and future.

Compiled by Shireen Perera using work cited by Kaiako at Te Wānagna o Aotearoa

By Shireen Perera – Palmerston North