Ngā Whetū o te Tau translates to "The Stars of the Year" and refers to the nine distinct stars of the Matariki cluster (the Pleiades) that rise in the midwinter sky to signal the arrival of the Māori New Year. In te ao Māori (the Māori world), each star in the constellation holds a deeply rooted connection to a specific element of the environment, health, and human wellbeing.
Cultural Significance
The appearance of these stars serves as a time for communities to come together to remember those who passed in the previous year, celebrate the current harvest with feast and song, and plan for the future. In some regions (such as Whanganui and parts of the South Island), the star Puanga (Rigel) is observed instead or alongside Matariki because the main cluster is harder to see from those locations.
Illustration by Ruatepupuke Ngata | Te Ihi Design
