Matariki - the Maori New Year, the Pleiades, and the Matariki public holiday

Matariki is the Maori New Year, observed when the Pleiades star cluster (Matariki) rises in the New Zealand sky in late June or early July. It became a public holiday in New Zealand in 2022 under the Matariki Act 2022. The day is marked by remembrance of the dead, celebration of the present, and reflection on the year ahead.

The one-line summary

A Maori New Year observance marked by the rising of the Matariki (Pleiades) star cluster in late June or early July. Became a public holiday in New Zealand in 2022. The day combines remembrance of the dead, celebration of the present, and reflection on the year ahead. The largest observances are in New Zealand, with growing recognition in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The Pleiades

The Matariki star cluster is the Maori name for the Pleiades, also catalogued as M45 in Western astronomy. The cluster contains several hundred young stars in the constellation Taurus, of which nine are visible to the naked eye under New Zealand sky conditions. The cluster is one of the most distinctive features of the Southern Hemisphere night sky in winter, and is visible from most of the inhabited world except the high Arctic.

In Maori tradition, each of the nine visible stars represents a different domain of life. Matariki is the mother star, associated with health and well-being. Tupu-a-nuku is associated with food grown in the earth; Tupu-a-rangi with food from the sky (birds, berries). Waiti is the salt-water star; Waita the fresh-water star. Waipuna-a-rangi is the rain star; Ururangi the wind star. Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the wishing star, used to send wishes to the dead. Pohutukawa is associated with the dead and remembrance.

When it is observed

Matariki is observed on a Friday in late June or early July, with the exact date varying each year based on the astronomical rising of the Matariki cluster. The Matariki Advisory Group of mātauranga experts, established under the Matariki Act 2022, determines the dates and publishes them well in advance - the official table runs out to 2052. In 2026, Matariki is observed on Friday, July 10.

The broader Matariki period runs for about a month, beginning with the new moon (Tangaroa, the period of waiting) and ending with the full moon of the cluster (Oneroa, the rising). The Matariki period is a time for harvesting, hunting, and gathering, with the specific activities varying by iwi and region. Many iwi observe the period with retreats, celebrations, and the planting of new trees or crops.

How it is observed

Matariki is observed in three overlapping ways that together form the "three phases" of the celebration. The first phase is whakamutunga - remembrance of the dead. Common observances include hanging a star on a tree, wreath, or other structure to remember loved ones who have died in the past year; visiting urupa (burial grounds); and reciting karakia (prayers) for the departed. Many iwi hold dawn ceremonies at significant sites on the morning of Matariki itself.

The second phase is whakanui i te nei - celebration of the present. This phase includes sharing kai (food) with whanau (extended family), holding hakari (feasts), flying kites (a traditional Maori practice associated with the rising of the stars), and performing waiata (songs) and kapa haka (group performance). Many urban New Zealanders use the long weekend to gather with family and to acknowledge the Maori cultural tradition.

The third phase is tirohanga whakamua - reflection on the year ahead. This phase includes looking to the visibility and brightness of the Matariki stars as a sign of the year ahead: bright stars indicate a productive year, dim stars indicate a difficult year. The phase also includes setting intentions, planting trees or crops, and committing to community service or environmental stewardship for the year ahead.

Public status

Matariki became a public holiday in New Zealand on June 24, 2022 under the Matariki Act 2022, which received royal assent on 11 April 2022. The Act created three new holidays: Matariki as a nationwide public holiday, and South Canterbury Anniversary Day and Whanganui Anniversary Day as regional ones. The Act requires the dates to be set and published well in advance of each year. Most businesses and government offices close on Matariki; some retail and hospitality businesses remain open and treat the day as a major sales opportunity.

Matariki and the Pacific

The rising of the Pleiades is observed in many Pacific cultures with different names and traditions. In Hawaii, the cluster is called Makali'i and is associated with the new year; the Makali'i rises in late October. In Tonga, the cluster is Mataliki and is associated with the new yam harvest in May. In Japan, the cluster is Subaru and is associated with the autumn rice harvest; the name Subaru means "united" in Japanese, reflecting the cluster's appearance.

The Matariki observance has spread to Maori diaspora communities in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with celebrations now held in Sydney, Melbourne, London, and several US cities. The international observance is typically organized by Maori cultural organizations and embassies, and serves both as a cultural celebration and an opportunity to raise awareness of indigenous New Zealand culture.

Sources

• en.wikipedia.org, Matariki.
• Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022, the statute that created the national holiday, its first anniversary, and the South Canterbury and Whanganui anniversary days that came with it.
• britannica.com, Matariki.
• teara.govt.nz, Matariki - Maori New Year.