Matariki (the Pleiades)

Cluster of stars shining against a black sky.

Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. Matariki is visible for 11 months of the year, disappearing in the lunar month of Haratua in May/June, and rising again around a month later, in the north-eastern skies, during the lunar month of Piripi. This usually occurs in late June or early July. It signals to Māori that the New Year will begin. From 2022 the rising of Matariki has been marked by a ‘Fridayised’ public holiday.

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by Mark Cannell

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Comments

Kymani Tuhura
01 June 2022

Matariki is a blessing, im apart of the moari culture i was born in gisborne,and nz is really a great place! im a Ngati Porou! Kia pai to ra!

rose
18 June 2018

i am from rotorua and i love matariki

Josh
30 June 2017

Hello at the moment I am doing Matariki inquiry and one of the questions are: According to legend, what is the job of each star sister. And I was wondering if you had the answer thanks! :)

makaveli
29 June 2016

help me with the matariki art plz

Te aikorangi
28 June 2016

exscues me there is no comment for the newest stars of the family pohutukawa and hinewaiterangi SO PLEASE UPDATE

Shan
21 June 2016

I have seen a tv programme on Maori Television, called Native Affairs, which screened on the 21st June 2016, that the Matariki constellation is not made up of what we call the seven sisters. The programme actually says that there are actually 9 stars and that three of the sisters are actually males. The programme also stated that Matariki starts on the 28th of June. What do you think?

Destiny
05 June 2016

The names are wiati waita waipunarangi tupu-anuku tupu-arangi ururangi and matariki which in English pleadie

jahvarna buler
27 March 2014

im from Napier my birth home is Hastings, Napier is a beautiful place. i love it, me and my family love to celebrate matariki, its awsome. We have whanau kai together, and when i was in primary we would have a whanau kai as well and sing a waiata, im not that fluent at maori but i know a bit... If anyone has any questions the y wonna ask Email me: [email protected]. ivge go0t little siblings my 5 year old sister is really fluent at it. i get jealous and time because im not. but at least i still love my FAMILY . all the end i still love my nanny

Angeline
03 July 2013

Matariki: Maori used the stars for navigation at sea or walking the land and things to do with the nature of our world Te Ao. He Ranginui he Papatuanuku Te tangata.

Angeline
02 July 2013

I'm from Waiti and I love my birth home, such a beautiful place. Fruit from on the trees were real and we had the small bottles of milk every morning at Te Hoe school. Waiti was known for the flax mill and I used to sit with my three nannies while they were weaving kete, mats and ropes and stuff. Sitting with them and listening to these three beautiful kuias who only spoke Maori. I have fond memories of my koro and nannie. Matariki has a daughter named Waiti and that makes me really really proud to be from Waiti. I love you matariki, like I love my nannies.

Emma Howard
19 July 2012

Hawaiian Airlines' Aloha Shirt uniform includes a Pleiades star constellation petroglyph. The ancient Hawaiians looked to the Pleiades to signal the beginning of their Makahiki festival. We are all connected on Earth,looking to same symbols to receive messages. Aloha, Emma Howard textile/surface designer

James Walker
10 May 2012

Tena Koutou Katoa Kei te pirangi ahau ki te tango hia nga korero me nga pikitia mo taku akoranga. Mena he patai koe email ki ahau nga korero Naku noa James Walker

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Story: Matariki – Te Tau Hou Māori