Matariki

                                         
                                           

Matariki is the maori name for a cluster of seven stars that are also known as Pleiades.  They rise in the sky in late May to early June.

Maori people use these stars to mark the start of a new year.  In history the rising of the seven stars told the Maori people when to plant their crops.  The brighter the stars were was a sign of a warmer season and better crops.

Matariki was also a time to remember people who had died in the last year as well as a time to celebrate and feast because the storehouse was all fill with crops, kaimoana and birds.

In the last few years it has become popular to celebrate Matariki again.

As this is a maori topic I have now translated it into te reo maori:

Ko te ingoa maori mo te kāhui o te whitu hoki nga whetu e mohiotia hoki rite Matariki Matariki. Whakatika ratou i roto i te rangi i roto i te mutunga o Mei ki te tīmatanga o Hune.

Whakamahi i te iwi Maori i enei whetu hei tohu i te tīmatanga o te Tau Hou. I roto i te aamu ka korerotia e te aranga o nga whetu e whitu te iwi Maori, ka ki te whakato i to ratou hua. Ko te anaanaraa nga whetu i ko i te tohu o te wa mahana me hua pai.

Ko ano hoki Matariki he wā ki te mahara te iwi i mate i roto i te tau o muri me te rite ki te wa ki te whakanui me te hakari no te mea whakakiia katoa te toa ki te kai, kaimoana me nga manu.

Riro i roto i nga tau torutoru whakamutunga, kua reira rongonui ki te whakanui ano Matariki.


In conclusion, I think that Matariki is a great time to share with Whanau and enjoy time together with some good kai!