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Matariki

The rise of the cluster of Pleiades in winter sky marks the beginning of the Māori New Year. Understand the significance, traditions, and how Matariki is celebrated in New Zealand through kai like kumera, waiata, kites and story. SCIS no. 1808305

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Celebrating Matariki – Te Wharekura 15

Celebrating Matariki – Te Wharekura 15

Matariki re-appears, Whānui starts its flight. The signs of a new year!

Matariki: Te Tau Hou Māori

Learn all about the Māori New Year, the Maramataka, and traditional Māori culture.

A selection of images on Matariki.

The largest gourmet hangi in Aotearoa will be served up to viewers who tune into Māori TV to celebrate Matariki.

Matariki 2011 - LATE at the Museum

Matariki 2011 - LATE at the Museum

This video explores the traditions of Matariki and the place of this festival within contemporary culture.

‘Te Matariki’

This artwork by Brett Graham explores the themes of creation, growth and knowledge, which are often linked in Māori cosmology.

Matariki story – Ngāti Toa Rangatira

Matariki story – Ngāti Toa Rangatira

Hear the Matariki story of Ngāti Toa Rangatira iwi (tribe), retold for children by kaumātua (elder) Te Waari Carkeek.

Celebrating Matariki. School Journal, Part 02 No. 02, 2005. Pgs. 12-17

Matariki is celebrated by the Ngā Puhi tribe in this article.

The Pleiades star cluster

A photograph of one of our most famous star clusters in the sky, the Pleiades.

Presents a summary of Matariki and includes ideas about how communities and families can celebrate during this time.

Matariki - the Māori new year

Offers information and resources about Matariki in relation to the New Zealand curriculum.

Presents brief information about Matariki and how educators and their tamariki can celebrate and acknowledge Matariki.

Matariki waiata

Celebrate Matariki – sing this beautiful waiata (song), Ngā Tamariki O Matariki, with your tamariki (children).

Marker for the Matariki/Pleiades

Photograph of a sculpture in the Wairarapa featuring the Matariki/Pleiades cluster.

Seven Sisters or Pleiades

The Pleiades - or Seven Sisters are one of the most famous collections of stars in our night sky.

Seven Stars of Matariki

Seven Stars of Matariki read by its author, Toni Rolleston-Cummins.

Matariki classroom resources

Presents a wall of creative and inspirational ideas and ways to celebrate Matariki.

Excellent guide covering the cultural significance of Matariki and how it is celebrated. Also available in te reo.

Standing 12m-high, this sculpture celebrates the concept of Pleiades/Matariki; its design is a representation of the Pleiades in the form of a growing vine, with the stars of Matariki forming the f...

Carved door and door surround, including the coat of arms for the Māori Kings (Te Paki o Matariki) at the Māori meeting house Turongo, Ngaruawahia. Three unknown persons sit at the foot of the door.

Te Paki o Matariki (1893)

Te Paki o Matariki (1893)

Twinkling in the winter skies of June, Matariki (the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year.

Explores the traditions of Matariki and the place of this festival within contemporary culture.

Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster also known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters in other cultures. The rise of Matariki in mid-winter marks the start of the new year for most iwi in tra...

Wellington City Council cancels Guy Fawkes and moves fireworks Sky Show to Matariki

Wellington will formally make Matariki, the Maori New Year, a major city celebration in 2018 instead of Guy Fawkes.

A gardener’s guide to Matariki

Matariki is a celebration of the harvest, gifting food, and preparing the ground for the new year's crops.

Kapo Kapo Jump Jam - Matariki 2013

Mana Tiaki whanau learn the 'Kapo Kapo' Jump Jam for the Kapo Kapo Matariki Festival to be held at the Te Rauparaha Arena in June 2013.

Matariki – He whakatauki

Whakatauki (Proverbs) on Matariki.

The 9 stars of Matariki

An introduction to each of the 9 whetū (stars).

Find more information about Matariki using EPIC databases like New Zealand Geographic. School login required.

Lanterns for Matariki. School Journal: Year 4 Part 01 No. 3: 2005

Damon and Annelise learn about kamo kamo and how to make lanterns for Matariki.

Being thankful for the good things but also reflecting on difficulties of the past year.

Matariki – The Māori New Year

A set of articles, videos, books, audio etc. on Matariki.

The Little Kiwi’s Matariki

Aroha reads 'The Little Kiwi’s Matariki' written by Nikki Slade-Robinson.

Matariki – our Māori New Year

A run-down on what Matariki is all about.

How to find the Matariki star cluster

How to find the Matariki star cluster during the Māori New Year.

Matariki should be a holiday

Some questions on the growing importance of Matariki in Aotearoa.

Matariki Awards

A new wave of talented Māori finalists has been selected for the 2019 Matariki Awards.

The Matariki star cluster

Information about the nine stars of Matariki.

How to make a Manu Tukukuku

Step-by-step instructions on how to make your own manu tukutuku.

Why not grow a kumara at home?

You can grow beautiful green vines from a whole kumara right from your kitchen window.

Matariki infographic

If you're looking to find Matariki in the night sky, this infographic by NZherald will make your star spotting a little easier.

Matariki teaching activities

Why do we bother to measure time in days, months and years? Why are there so many ways of measuring time?

'Matariki' tukutuku panel

'Matariki' tukutuku panel

"Matariki Ahunga Nui - Matariki is a provider of abundant resources” This is a tukutuku turapa or panel named 'Matariki', woven to acknowledge the Maori New Year by master weaver Sonia Snowden (Ng...

Matariki – the star of the year

Dr Rangi Matamua talks to Justin Gregory on some misunderstandings around Matariki. Listen to this discussion on New Zealand Geographic available through EPIC. School login maybe required.

Matariki poem written by Moana, age 12

Matariki is a time in midwinter to gather with family and friends and celebrate the Māori New Year.

Puanga Matariki

Matariki re-appears, Whānui starts its flight. Being the sign of the new year!

Matariki Festival

What’s on in Tāmaki Makaurau for the Māori New Year with Matariki Festival.

The Māori New Year and how to celebrate it

How to celebrate Matariki.

Hinewehi Mohi, Matariki

A te reo waiata about Matariki.

Mathematics ideas in the context of Matariki

Matariki as an opportunity to engage in activities that enrich mathematical, environmental and cultural experiences.

Māori astronomy - Te Whānau Mārama

Professor Rangi Matamua, curator of a Waikato Museum exhibition about the history and meaning of Matariki - Te Whānau Mārama: The Heavenly Bodies shares Māori understandings of the night sky.

Ways to celebrate Matariki with your family

Improve your health and wellbeing while enjoying the Matariki festivities.

Matariki breakfast: Ready to Read

Kara describes how her whānau (family) celebrated Matariki.

Matariki picture books

Bring some Matariki into your home with this list of picture books.

Carved door with the coat of arms for the Maori kings

While the mid-year celebration of Matariki and the symbolism of its 7stars (the seven daughters of Matariki) are now well-known in New Zealand.

Matariki for kids

Information about the nine stars of Matariki.

Matariki and The New Zealand Curriculum

Matariki provides an opportunity for students to explore the values of diversity, community and participation, and respect for self and others.

Many Answers has information to guide you to Matariki-related websites and databases.

Lighting the sky with Raspberry Pi

Students at Fernridge School have created a digital light display for Matariki using Raspberry Pi computers.

Matariki, stories and celebration

This report explains some of the stories associated with Matariki and some of the ways it is celebrated.

Celebrating Puanga at Ramanui

This article describes how one Taranaki school celebrates the appearance of the star Puanga in the eastern sky – the signal for the start of the Māori New Year.

Matariki breakfast

Matariki Breakfast describes Kara’s experience of celebrating Matariki (Māori New Year) with her whānau.

Matariki – Level 3

This unit builds the learning of mathematics around celebrations of Matariki, the Māori New Year.

Stardome Observatory

Your Matariki kete of activities and information. Suitable for preschool and junior primary.

Tuia Mātauranga education programme, Matariki

Matariki, a time to reflect, remember and recharge.

Teacher resources for Matariki

Teacher resources for Matariki - the Māori New Year.

Matariki Star Stories: Resource

Developing oral language skills through Matariki storytelling.

The InMotion Matariki education resource

This resource is designed as a multimedia experience with content available as a printed booklet (downloadable PDF) and via the website.

A Maori opinion on the trees and stars

An article from an 1874 West Coast Times newspaper giving a Māori perspective on trees and stars.

Information on Matariki (including Matariki for schools) from NZHistory.

Matariki: The Māori New Year

Information from Te Papa covering Matariki activities and articles.

Matariki – Māori New Year

Twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year.

Matariki resources

Christchurch City Libraries Links to online resources and websites about Matariki, Māori New Year.

What is Matariki?

Matariki signals the Māori New Year. It is a time of renewal and celebration in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Stolen Stars of Matariki with Miriama Kamo

When Grandma notices two of the Stars of Matariki are missing, it’s up to her mokopuna Sam and Te Rerehua to find them

Make your own hanging Whetū (stars) - Matariki festival craft videos from Wellington City Libraries.

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