By Miss Davey

Matariki is the Māori name for the small group of stars also known as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. The rise of Matariki marks beginning of the Māori New Year. Matariki is one of the most important celebrations in the Māori culture

Physically Matariki is a constellation of stars in the “Taurus” constellation. Matariki is made up of hundreds of stars, but only seven can be seen with the naked eye. It is said that if Matariki is faint and misty, we will have a cold hard winter. If it is bright and clear the season will be warm and plentiful.

In New Zealand matariki appears low on the north-eastern horizon, at the tail of the Milky Way You can first see it on the last days of May or in early June, just before dawn.

To find Matariki in the sky you first need to look for the pot (also known as Orions Belt) If you move your eyes left (north) you will first see a group of stars shaped like an upside down “V”. That is Matakaheru (also known as Hyades). Move your eyes left and you will find Matariki.

Matariki literally means the ‘eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). Either way the eyes are thought to watch over the land and its people. In ancient times Matariki arrived at the end of the harvest and hunting time. This was time when Māori began new planting and had plenty of food.

There are lots of stories about Matariki and how it come to be in the sky. Some are linked to the gods, some are linked to the sun and others are linked to the land and food that was available at this time (birds and eels). For many Maori Matariki is the bow of a great waka (canoe). The back of the waka (stern) is shown by Tautoru (otherwise known as Orion’s sword or the pot handle) Planting is done at this time to please the gods Uenuku, Rongo and Whero.

One legend says that when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother were pushed apart by their children, the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became angry. He pulled out his eyes and threw them into the sky. Another story says that Matariki is a mother surrounded by her six daughters. Matariki and her daughters help the sun (Te Rā) on his way across the sky. They do this because his winter journey from the north has left him weak and so he needs help.

Some Māori tribes celebrated when Matariki was first seen in the dawn sky; others celebrated after the full moon rose or at the beginning of the next new moon. For all Māori tribes, the importance of Matariki has been told in stories and songs, which link with the bright stars. Matariki celebrations are often linked with the winter solstice (the shortest day).

As well as being Māori new year, Matariki also a time for other new beginnings. Traditionally, Matariki was the time to plant trees and prepare the land for planting food crops Matariki was also a time to renew your links with your whānau.

Matariki is also a good time to reflect on your place in the world, to work on old skills, learn new skill and to set new goals. Because Matariki happens in winter it was a relatively quiet time of year for Māori. This allowed time to make art works or learn new skills. Some tribes believed that Matariki was first house of learning - a whare wananga in the sky.

Matariki is often celebrated with traditional foods and games and with the making of new artworks. There are many things you can do to celebrate Matariki. You could celebrate like traditional Māori or you could celebrate using ways that thought up for yourself There are many things you can do to celebrate Matariki. You could celebrate like traditional Māori or you could celebrate using ways that thought up for yourself

This year, why not try some of these new beginnings: Go to a matariki festival and learn more about this important celebration. Get fit. Look at your diet and exercise and see if there are any improvements to be made Make a plan to save for something you would like and stick to it. Look at your relationships with your family. Do you know what your family are really interested in? Is there a relative you haven't kept in touch with?

Start or update your family history. (Whakapapa is our history, who we are.) Matariki is a great time to learn about the deeds and actions of our ancestors and how they have shaped who we are today. Make an artwork to show who you are and where you come from. Learn a new skill or build on an old one. Brush up on your Māori language. Perhaps you could dust off the old guitar or piano. Find a way to learn a skill you've always wanted to have- learn something you can pass on to others.

Make a wish for the New Year when you see the stars or new moon. Make some food to share with friends and whanau

The time that Matariki rises and the Māori new year celebration starts, is unique to Aotearoa. However, the Matariki star group can be seen from many parts of the world. Matariki is known by several other names around the world, including Pleiades, Seven Sisters, Subaru and Messier 45.

In the Pacific, Matariki is an important group of stars for sailors. Mataraki is used to guide the way It is also a sign that the weather is safe for long boat journeys as it signals the end of the stormy season.

The rise of the Matariki has shown the changing of seasons in countries all around the world since the ancient times. The rise of the Matariki has shown the changing of seasons in countries all around the world since the ancient times. Early Greek sailors called Matariki the 'sailing stars‘. They would only sail when the stars could be seen at night. In Hawai ̀i, Matariki is known as the Makali ̀i. They are first seen in October/November. They mark the start of the great Makahiki Festival dedicated to the god of rain and agriculture.

The Japanese call the Matariki stars 'Subaru‘, meaning ‘united' or 'getting together'. There is a type of car named after the stars. Some cultures believed that when Matariki was overhead at midnight it caused the great flood from the bible and the sinking of Atlantis. In both ancient Greece and Mexico, temples were built to line up with the rising and setting of Matariki.

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