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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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Matariki: Te Tau Hou Māori

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

Matariki 2019 Festival

What’s on in Tāmaki Makaurau for the Māori new year with Matariki Festival, 22 June to 14 July 2019.

Celebrating Matariki – Te Wharekura 15

Celebrating Matariki – Te Wharekura 15

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

Matariki

A selection of images on Matariki.

Gourmet hangi

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’

‘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 Nga Puhi tribe in this article.

The Pleiades star cluster

A photograph of one of our most famous star cluster on the sky, the Pleiades.

Gives astronomical and cultural information about the importance of Matariki, and the star cluster Pleiades.

Presents a summary of what Matariki is. Includes ideas how communities and families can celebrate the festival.

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).

Growing potato & kumara

Gives tips on how to grow potato and kumara for school gardens.

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.

An animation that explores the Matariki legend.

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.

A Maori opinion on the trees and stars

A long letter from a Māori, dating from Waikouaiti, on the conservation of forests.

Coming soon

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

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.

Matariki

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

Matariki

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.

It's time to greet the Maori New Year. For the first time ever, the seventh little sister, Ururangi, can make her own celebration kite.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

Matariki – the star of the year

Dr Rangi Matamua talks to Justin Gregory on some misunderstandings around Matariki.

The Matariki star cluster

Information about the nine stars of Matariki.

Matariki for kids

Information about the nine stars of Matariki.

Matariki – measuring time

Māori and other cultures used the stars to determine the cycle of a year.

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?

A beginner’s guide to finding Matariki

What’s on in Tāmaki Makaurau for the Māori new year with Matariki Festival, 22 June to 14 July 2019.

'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...

About the Māori New Year

How to celebrate Matariki in 2019.

Festivals and Celebrations

Festivals and Celebrations

Matariki, Christmas, Easter and more recently Chinese New Year and Diwali are some of the festivals New Zealanders celebrate. Find out about our religious holidays, festivals, traditions and storie...

Māori Myths and Legends

Māori Myths and Legends

Explore Māori culture through the pūrākau about creation myths including and Ranginui and Papatūānuke, the exploits of Maui Kupe’s voyage and discovery of Aotearoa, and legends about gods, goddess...

Traditional Māori Culture and Customs

Traditional Māori Culture and Customs

The Māori world is rich in tikanga. Find out about the types of weaving, whakapapa, and whakairo, patterns (kowhaiwhai), moko, cooking a hāngī, waiata, dances (peruperu), legends and the protocol f...