Matariki
June 24th brings a sense of excitement as we move toward celebrating Matariki as a public holiday for the first time ever. The name 'Matariki' is a shortened version of 'Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea' ' the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea' as this is the god of winds who shattered his own eyes and threw them into the sky in anger at his parents Ranginui and Papatūānuku being separated.
Matariki has always been held in a light of abundance, remembrance, unity and hope for the future but with this first ever opportunity for us to take time off and consider what Matariki can mean to us. A public holiday for Matariki is a perfect time to begin understanding who we are, our nationality and what makes us unique.
Our Maori and Pacific ancestors understood their environment and how we are all connected through the whenua (land), rangi, (sky) and moana (seas).
The star constellation Matariki brings a new year in sync with our seasons, and how Māori lived in tune with the environment. Reading these stars can predict the upcoming season, knowing that a clear and bright appearance of Matariki forecasts a warm winter or a tough winter and the changing of the seasons. Matariki also reminds us that all parts of the environment are interconnected, to each other, and to us as humans.
Traditionally, Matariki was a time to acknowledge the dead and to release their spirits to become stars. It was also a time to reflect, to be thankful to the gods, to feast and to share harvest with family and friends.
While the resurgence of Matariki is apparent in Aotearoa, it is also a sacred kaupapa that is celebrated throughout the Pacific islands. Across Pasifika, Matariki is celebrated by all the islands and underpins a narrative that brings us all together with a sense of connectedness.
Celebrated around the world, the name Matariki echoes through the Pacific: In Samoa it's known as Mata-ali'i, in Hawaii it is Makahiki, and in Tahiti, Matari'i. This constellation connects Aotearoa’s Tangata Whenua and Pasifika in a sense of kinship.
We can use Matariki to take a breath to remember the past, celebrate the present and plan for the future. Through this lens we can try to use this new year to reconnect with our cultures, friends and families and be thankful for the blessings in our lives.
If you’re in Wellington for Matariki, The Stardome is showing a film called Ngā Tohunga Whakatere - The Navigators, all about Moko, a young navigator who learns about Māori, Pasifika and, later, European navigation towards. Click here to find out more.