Celebrating Matariki

Matariki is here, bringing the emergence of new beginnings! The rising of the Matariki star cluster marks the Māori New Year. It’s a time of remembrance, joy, and peace. Iwi, hapu, and whānau come together to mourn family members, share kai, have discussions (wānanga), and celebrate (whakanui) within their local communities.

The story of Matariki takes us back to the separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku. Following their separation, Tāwhirimātea, the god of the winds, was so upset that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the sky. This is how Matariki came to be: Ngā mata o te ariki, o Tāwhirimātea; The eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea.

Check out this page on the Te Papa website which also has a beautifully illustrated video on the mythology and history of Matariki.

Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori!

Photo by Shlomo Shalev on Unsplash.