Matariki is a celebration of past, present and future. Each year, as our hiking season comes to a close, winter wraps Aotearoa in cool stillness, the nights stretch longer, and something magical happens just before dawn. Rising above the eastern horizon is a small cluster of stars with a big story, Matariki. Known globally as the Pleiades constellation, Matariki marks the Māori New Year and offers a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect with each other, with the whenua (land), and with the skies above.
Matariki is more than just a beautiful celestial event, it’s traditionally a time that brings people together to remember those who have passed, give thanks for the harvest, and set intentions for the year ahead. It’s a deeply meaningful time in te ao Māori, the Māori world, and in 2022, it was officially recognised as a public holiday in New Zealand, making it our first holiday to be grounded in te ao Māori. That recognition has opened the door for more people to learn, celebrate, and appreciate the richness of this tradition.
Celebrations around Matariki vary by region and iwi (tribe). My own iwi, Ngāi Tahu, celebrates with the appearance of another star, Puaka (or Puanga to other iwi, and also known as Rigel), which appears in the sky around the same time of the year, as the Matariki cluster is more difficult to see in some parts country. Regardless, celebrations tend to focus on three key themes: remembrance, celebration, and vision. It’s a time to honour loved ones who have passed on, gather with whānau and friends, share kai (food) and stories, and to look ahead with hope and intention. There’s something grounding about stopping mid-winter to acknowledge the cycles of life, death, and renewal, all under the quiet gaze of the stars.
For those who love the outdoors, Matariki resonates deeply. It reminds us that the land and sky are part of the same living system. You might wake early for a winter hike, steaming mug in hand, and look up to spot the cluster sparkling in the pre-dawn sky. Out in the hills, with the air crisp and the world hushed, Matariki becomes more than a story, it becomes an experience.
Scientifically, Matariki is known as the Pleiades, an open star cluster located around 444 light-years from Earth in the Taurus constellation. It contains hundreds of stars, though most people can see about seven to nine with the naked eye — depending on the clarity of the sky and their own eyesight. These stars are relatively young in astronomical terms, only about 100 million years old. They’re hot, blue, and bright, and still surrounded by the remnants of the nebula from which they were born.
What’s truly fascinating is that this same star cluster is known and revered around the world. In ancient Greece, it was the story of the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione, pursued by the hunter Orion. In Japan, the cluster is called Subaru, yes, like the car brand, which uses six stars in its logo. In Hawaii, it’s Makaliʻi, marking the beginning of the harvest season. Across the Pacific, in Australia and among Indigenous nations, similar stories emerge with different names, different legends, but all pointing to the same stars.
This blend of astronomy, ecology, and cultural wisdom is unique and powerful. It reflects the deep understanding Māori have of seasonal cycles, sustainability, and the interconnectedness of all things.
In Māori tradition, each star in the Matariki cluster has its own name and meaning, often tied to environmental elements.
Matariki: The cluster's main star, is known as the mother of the other eight visible stars.
Pōhutukawa: Connects Matariki to the dead, and remembering those who have passed.
Tupuānuku: Represents the life and growth that come from the earth.
Tupuārangi: Associated with food sources from the sky, such as birds and fruits.
Waitī: Represents freshwater, food sources sustained by those waters, and the connection to rivers and lakes.
Waitā: A twin to Waitī, associated with saltwater and the life within it.
Waipuna-ā-Rangi: Connected to rain and the life it nourishes.
Ururangi: Represents the winds and is thought to predict the weather patterns for the coming year.
Hiwa-i-te-Rangi: The youngest star, associated with wishes, hopes, and aspirations for the new year.
Of course! Celebrating Matariki doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as sharing a meal with loved ones, if you’re in New Zealand, attending a local event, writing down your hopes for the year ahead, or rising early to watch the stars from a quiet place. However you choose to mark it, Matariki invites us to slow down and be present, to reflect on where we’ve come from and where we’re going, with appreciation for both the journey and those who walk it with us.
As the Matariki stars rise, so too do our thoughts, our memories, and our aspirations. In a world that often moves too fast, this ancient celebration gives us permission to pause, breathe, and reconnect to the sky, to the land, and to each other. I myself plan to take a walk on the beach with a hot Milo (New Zealand's answer to Hot Chocolate). I will look to the stars and be grateful for the many blessings in my life.
Mānawatia a Matariki, honour, acknowledge and welcome Matariki, may you celebrate and cherish this special time of year, in whatever way speaks to your heart.
Words by Anna Morris
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