Matariki is the Māori New Year, celebrated in New Zealand when the Pleiades star cluster rises in late June or early July. The festival blends remembrance, hope, and renewal, with dawn ceremonies, star-gazing, and communal feasts marking the occasion.
- Marks the Māori New Year with the rising of the Pleiades
- Dawn star-gazing ceremonies are a key tradition
- Food offerings and hāngī feasts are central to celebrations
- Remembrance of the deceased is an important part
- Dates vary each year according to the Māori lunar calendar
What it is
Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster, and its first appearance before dawn in midwinter signals the start of the Māori New Year. For Māori communities, Matariki is a time to reflect on the past, honour those who have died, and look forward with hope. The festival is deeply rooted in the Māori lunar calendar and is seen as a moment to reconnect with the land, the sky, and each other. Matariki brings families and communities together to share food, remember ancestors, and make wishes for the year ahead.
Where it comes from
Matariki has ancient origins in Māori astronomy and tradition, where the stars guided navigation, planting, and harvesting. The name 'Matariki' is a shortened form of 'Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea', meaning 'the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea', referencing a story in which the god of wind cast his eyes into the sky. While the festival declined during the 20th century, it experienced a revival from the 1990s and became an official public holiday in New Zealand in 2022. Different Māori iwi (tribes) may mark the New Year by the rising of other stars, such as Puanga (Rigel), reflecting regional traditions.
How it is celebrated
Celebrations of Matariki often begin with dawn gatherings to view the star cluster as it rises, a moment for reflection and forecasting the year ahead. Families and communities come together to mourn those who have passed, share memories, and honour ancestors. Offerings of food are made, sometimes through the traditional hāngī (earth oven), as a way to replenish the stars and give thanks. Wishes and hopes for the coming year are placed upon the stars, especially Hiwa-i-te-rangi, known as the wishing star. The festival is marked by communal meals, storytelling, music, and reconnecting with Māori customs and language. Each region and iwi may have its own unique practices, but the themes of remembrance, gratitude, and renewal are shared.
Joining in
If you visit New Zealand during Matariki, you can expect public events, dawn ceremonies, and community feasts, especially in cities and towns with strong Māori presence. Many celebrations are open to all, with opportunities to learn about Māori traditions, astronomy, and stories. Look for local gatherings, star-gazing events, and cultural performances, and be prepared to join in respectful remembrance and joyful community spirit. The timing varies each year, so check local calendars for the main festivities.
Sources and attribution
This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Matariki, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.
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