Matariki is a celebration for all New Zealanders.
It is a time to celebrate whānau and all the precious moments. A time to huddle together and stay warm. We share kai, we share stories, we farewell our loved ones that have gone before us and give thanks for the year ahead.
Matariki is not one specific day, it is a season heralded by the rise of the Matariki cluster in the eastern sky in winter. The dates that iwi and hāpu use to mark the rise is dependent on where they are in the country and which particular stars in the cluster they give honour to.
How to celebrate Matariki at home
Me pēhea te whakanui i a Matariki i te kāinga
The star cluster Matariki appears in our skies in the month of Pipiri (June–July), marking the start of the Māori New Year. This is the coldest time of the year and Pipiri means ‘to draw close’.
It’s a time to come together with your friends, whānau, and communities. It’s about eating, reflecting, having fun, and looking forward to the year ahead.
The Sisters of Mercy in Aotearoa have created a wonderful resource that links Matariki to our faith, in particular to our call to care for our common home. You can view this resource here.
It is a time to celebrate whānau and all the precious moments. A time to huddle together and stay warm. We share kai, we share stories, we farewell our loved ones that have gone before us and give thanks for the year ahead.
Five ways to celebrate Matariki
Attend a local Matariki event.
Come together with your community for a Matariki ritual that uses all the ideas above: Fire and warmth, food, reflection, hopes and dreams, stories, nature, and games.
Below are a selection of those organised around the Diocese of Palmerston North. There may be others in your own region, see what you can find out!