What is Matariki?
Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster most commonly known as Pleiades.
In the Southern Hemisphere we best see Matariki in the dawn sky, mid-winter. Māori traditionally used the rising of Matariki as a marker for their New Year. It’s a time for family and friends to gather, to honour the dead, celebrate the present and plan for the future.
There are 9 stars in the constellation and each have special significance as follows:
Matariki
Pōhutakawa
Tupuānuku
Tupuārangi
Waitī
Waitā
Waipunarangi
Ururangi
Hiwa-i-te rangi
Happy New Year!
