Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster and for a season of remembrance, renewal, and planning observed when the stars rise before dawn. Practices and timing vary among iwi. Some communities use Puanga, Rigel, or other regional markers instead.
Reading the stars
Knowledge holders observe the visibility and appearance of the stars together with lunar phases and local environmental signs. These observations inform expectations for weather, planting, gathering, and the year ahead. The process is part of mātauranga Māori, not a horoscope with one prediction for everyone.
Remembrance and renewal
Matariki gatherings honor those who died, share food, celebrate the present, and prepare for the future. A nine-star teaching system is widely used today, with each star linked to a domain such as health, rain, wind, food, or wishes. Other traditions count and name the cluster differently.
A national public holiday
New Zealand first observed Matariki as a national public holiday in 2022. Dates are selected through Māori lunar knowledge rather than fixed to one Gregorian day. National celebration does not erase local tikanga, and respectful observance makes room for iwi-specific practice.