1. By June Kim

2.  What is Matariki?  When is the maori new year?  What does Matariki mean?  Why is Matariki important?  Matariki

3. Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as th e Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters ; and what is referred to as the traditional M aori New Year

4.  The Maori new year is marked by the rise of Matariki and the sighting of the next n ew moon. The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in the last few days of May e very year and the new year is marked at t he sighting of the next new moon which occurs during June. This next occurs on 5 June 2008.

5.  Matariki has two meanings, both referrin g to a tiny constellation of stars; Mata Rik i (Tiny Eyes) and Mata Ariki (Eyes of Go d).

6.  Traditionally, depending on the visibility of Ma tariki, the coming season's crop was thought to be determined. The brighter the stars indicated the warmer the season would be and thus a mo re productive crop. It was also seen as an impor tant time for family to gather and reflect on the past and the future.

8.  In the Māori language Matariki is the name of the Pleia des star cluster, which was important for agriculture in establishing the correct time to plant crops. There are t wo explanations of the name Matariki: firstly, mata-riki (small eyes) or mata-ariki (chiefly eyes). The constellatio n is also believed to have been used by navigators.MāoriPleia desstar clusteragriculture  In traditional times, Matariki was a season to celebrate and to prepare the ground for the coming year. Offerin gs of the produce of the land were made to the gods, in cluding Rongo. This time of the year was also a good ti me to instruct young people in the lore of the land and the forest. In addition, certain birds and fish were espec ially easy to harvest at this time.Rongo

9.  The first rising of the Pleiades and of Rigel occurs j ust prior to sunrise in late May or early June, and t his indicates that the old year has ended and the ne w year has begun. The actual time for celebrating Matariki varies, depending on the iwi. Some iwi ce lebrate it immediately. Others wait until the rising of the next full moon, or alternatively the dawn of t he next new moon. It has become common practice for various private and public institutions to celebr ate Matariki over the period of a week or month an ywhere from early June to late July. Other iwi used the rising of Rigel (Puanga) in a similar way.iwifull moonnew moonPuanga

10.  In traditional times, Matariki was a season to ce lebrate and to prepare the ground for the comi ng year. Offerings of the produce of the land w ere made to the gods, including Rongo. This ti me of the year was also a good time to instruct young people in the lore of the land and the for est. In addition, certain birds and fish were esp ecially easy to harvest at this time.Rongo