Matariki celebration on Mauao draws over 400 to remember the departed
Hands on the Mauri stone during the Hautapu ceremony as people call out the names of passed loved ones. Photo / Hēmi Rolleston
More than 400 people gathered on the summit of Mauao in the early hours of this morning to celebrate Matariki and remember those who have passed.
Te Puna I Rangiriri Trust chairman and co-founder Jack Thatcher, who is also a celestial navigator, led the Matariki Maumaharatanga ceremony atop Mauao at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Aroha/Te Aroha And Ariki/Te Ariki Top Māori Baby Names Of 2024/2025
The Department of Internal Affairs, Te Tari Taiwhenua, has released the most popular Māori baby names for 2024/2025. For the third consecutive year, Aroha/Te Aroha/Te-Aroha/TeAroha (173) topped the list for kōtiro (girls), while Ariki/Te Ariki/Āriki/te Ariki (137) remained the most popular name for tāne (boys). Rounding out the top five names for kōtiro were: Maia/Māia/Te Māia, Moana/Te Moana, Anahera/Te Anahera and Atarangi/Te Atarangi/Te Ataarangi/Te-Atarangi. For tāne, the top five includes Wiremu, Koa, Mikaere and Rangi/Te Rangi/te Rangi/te rangi/Te-Rangi. 'Each name tells a story. It's a reflection of whakapapa, identity, and the hopes whānau hold for their tamariki,' says Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages Russell Burnard. Burnard also highlighted the care taken in compiling the list. 'We approach the creation of the Māori baby names list with deep respect and cultural responsibility. Each name is carefully reviewed to ensure it aligns with te reo Māori conventions—right down to the structure of vowels and consonants, and the presence of macrons. 'Our process includes consultation with kaumātua and final review by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. Through this collaboration we aim to honour the mana of Māori names.' The first and middle names featured in this list were registered with Department of internal Affairs, Te Tari Taiwhenua between 1 July 2024 and 18 June 2025. These dates align with the Tangaroa lunar calendar period associated with Matariki, as advised by the Matariki Advisory Committee. Department of internal Affairs, Te Tari Taiwhenua has published a list of the top Māori baby names since 2013. 2022/2023 was the first year that this list was released to coincide with Matariki, the Māori New Year. To view the top full list of Māori baby names from 2024/2025, 2023/2024, and 2022/2023, visit the SmartStart website:
1News
3 hours ago
- 1News
Matariki celebrated with events across London
Matariki is being celebrated on the other side of the world to the Pacific, with educational and performance events taking place in London. Storytelling workshops are being held at the National Maritime Museum in the afternoon Friday (local time) to hear about the cultural significance of the Matariki star cluster, with perspectives on traditions and practices being shared from not only Aotearoa, but also Kiribati, Samoa and the Cook Islands. Robbie Atatoa resided in Hamilton, but was from the Cook Island's second largest island of Mangaia. "I think it is important to share and learn not only about our taonga here but also knowledge around Matariki, how we see Matariki in our island… what Matariki meant in our community. "Of course, it's the revitalisation of our knowledge and our practices that goes with Matariki," Atatoa said. ADVERTISEMENT He was currently on a short residency at the museum, where he is carving traditional Mangaian toki (ceremonial adze). He has been linked to the museum since he identified the Mangaian origin of taonga on display, he said. Atatoa said there was a growing awareness of Matariki across the Pacific, because of efforts from Professor Rangi Matamua to see the event understood. "It's always been there and I believe across the Pacific but now it's becoming more… bringing out in the community to acknowledge our own practices and keep it going for the generations to come." Atatoa said on Mangaia, there's an event called takurua mataiti during Matariki, with 'taka rua' meaning feast and 'mataiti' meaning new year. "In that event it's an opportunity for our puna, or our village, to come together in celebration of the first harvest." He said the event is also a time to plan for the year ahead, as it is for Māori, with decisions on what crops to grow and if certain fishing stocks are healthy enough to be a sustainable food source in the year ahead. A sold-out event is being held Friday evening UK time at the Royal Observatory to mark Matariki. ADVERTISEMENT A karakia and introduction to the star cluster will be held by Jamie Tahana. On Saturday UK time, Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club are holding a festival at the Pacific Tavern in London, to mark the Māori New Year. Ngāti Rānana, Beats of Polynesia and On The Pā will perform.
NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Matariki in Rotorua: Whānau Day draws crowds for cultural events
When you've spent several years as Māori living in Australia like the Kanara whānau, celebrating Matariki in a place like Rotorua is extra special. They were among the hundreds who flowed through the gates at Te Puia today to celebrate Matariki (the Māori New Year) at the Whānau Day. It
