What makes Matariki special? How this Māori star festival connects ancient cultures from Japan to Greece
New Zealand marked this year's
Matariki
, the
Māori New Year
, with dawn ceremonies, cultural events, and family gatherings. Celebrated as a national public holiday on 20 June, it reflects reflection, remembrance, and hopeful renewal.
Matariki refers to the cluster of stars known internationally as the
Pleiades
or 'Seven Sisters.' In Māori tradition, it marks the start of the lunar month of Pipiri, signalling the Māori New Year.
Communities would mourn those who passed since last year, reciting names and singing laments. They also made food offerings, like kūmara, seafood, and fish, to honour the stars and ancestors before feasting together.
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Rising at dawn in late June or early July, its appearance heralds a renewal cycle.
Why is Matariki being celebrated?
Live Events
Traditionally, Māori would gather to observe the stars and forecast the year. Each star, such as Matariki, Pōhutukawa, and Tupuānuku, was tied to aspects of life and the environment. Bright stars promised good seasons ahead.
Today's celebrations echo these traditions with dawn services, food offerings, haka, public feasts (hāngī), and cultural performances. Communities nationwide also host art exhibitions, stargazing events, marine and bird-harvest blessings, and eco-activities during the Matariki period.
Matariki focuses on three core values:
Remembering the past
– Honouring loved ones who have passed.
Celebrating the present
– Giving thanks with whānau and community.
Looking to the future
– Setting intentions and planting seeds, literally and spiritually, for the year ahead.
Global Connections
Matariki follows lunar and stellar cycles, making it a 'movable feast' similar to celebrations like Lunar New Year, Eid, or Easter, which also change dates yearly.
Matariki is the star cluster most commonly known around the world as the Pleiades. This cluster is part of a larger constellation called Taurus. It is one of the earliest recorded groups of stars in human history, with documentation dating back approximately 17,000 years.
Various cultures around the world have different names for this group of stars. In Japan, they are called
Subaru
, which means "to come together." In China, they are referred to as Mao, meaning the hairy head of the white tiger. In India, the cluster is known as Krittika.
In Greek mythology, they are referred to as the Seven Sisters, while in Norse mythology, the Vikings called them Freyja's hens.
These shared myths are continuations of cultures in which societies have used the same stars to mark time, guide planting, and honour ancestors.
A Festival for All
Matariki is now embraced by many New Zealanders, Māori and non-Māori alike. It's a national moment of unity and cultural learning. Families create new traditions—sharing kai, planting, stargazing, storytelling, and crafting.
During this festival people reconnect with whakapapa and kaitiakitanga, respect for ancestors and guardianship of the land. It encourages reflection, gratitude, planning, and care for each other and the environment.
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