Matariki 2023

The meaning of Matariki

We now have a statutory holiday each year in celebration of Matariki. This year, it falls on Friday 14 July. The day and what it stands for, however, are more meaningful than having paid time o work.

The word Matariki is an abbreviation of ngā mata o te ariki Tāwhirimātea (the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea) and refers to the cluster of starts known in some European traditions as the Pleiades.

The Pleiades cluster took its name from pleiad, the ancient Greek word for sail, because its appearance in the morning northern sky heralded the beginning of sailing season. The Pleaides cluster is made up of the ancient Greek god Atlas, his wife Pleione, and their seven daughters: Alcyone, Maia, Electra, Taygeta, Merope, Asterope and Celaeno.

Almost every culture you can think of has a name and a story about this cluster of stars. Māori legend has it that Tāwhirimātea (the god of the wind) was so angry when his siblings separated their parents, Ranginui the sky father and Papatūānuku the earth mother, that he tore out his own eyes and threw them into the heavens, forming the Matariki cluster.

Traditionally, Matariki has been a time to remember those who have passed away,

to celebrate the present, and look to the future.

 The rst sightings of Matariki were traditionally greeted with expressions of grief for those who had died since its last appearance.

 Once the time of grief was over, the emphasis of Matariki shifted to celebration. Because Matariki took place at the end of harvesting, there was an abundant supply of food for feasting. People rejoiced, sang, and danced to celebrate the change of season and the potential for new beginnings.

 Matariki has conventionally also been a time for planning for the year ahead. If the stars were clear and bright, it signalled a favourable and productive season ahead, and so planting would begin in September. If the stars appeared hazy and closely bunched together, a cold winter was in store and so planting was put o until October.

Today, many Māori and pakeha consider Matariki to be a time to re ect on the past, to feast and spend time with friends and whānau (family) in the present, and to think about the future while celebrating the Māori New Year (te Mātahi au te Tau).

TE ARA O NGĀ WHETŪ O MATARIKI

FOLLOW THE STARS OF MATARIKI - CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Check out the fantastic range of community events planned to celebrate Matariki from 10-16 July. For more information about the events search for “Matariki” on our website: www.mstn.govt.nz

ON NOW AND THROUGHOUT MATARIKI

Matariki reading challenge

Register online with Beanstack or pop into the library to get your bongo sheet for this free challenge! Complete different reading challenges to win for prizes, and earn your own book to keep. Ages 0-18. When Now until Saturday 15 July

Where Your house

Bookings Not required Matariki

MONDAY 10 - THURSDAY 13 JULY

He hokinga mahara ki ngā tau whā tekau

Te Whakarewatanga o te tau hokorua o te Kōhanga Reo o Ngāti Hāmua. Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngāti Hāmua invite whānau and our community to look at their exhibition as they celebrate a 40 year milestone in the presence of kaumātua.

When 10:30am Monday 10 July - 12 noon

Thursday 13 July

Where Haukāinga, 15 Queen Street, Masterton Bookings Not required Hiwa-i-te-rangi and Pōhutukawa

MONDAY 10 JULY

Matariki colouring

Matariki themed colouring at the library all day.

Everything provided, all welcome.

When Monday 10 July - all day

Where Masterton Library, 54 Queen Street Bookings Not required Matariki

Matariki raranga/weaving and waiata

Join local artist Taonga by LJ to make ngā whetū/stars with harakeke at Club Wairarapa. $20 koha entry.

When 10am-3pm Monday 10 July

Where Club Wairarapa, 20 Essex Street Masterton Bookings Yes - please call 06 370 0012 Matariki and Pōhutukawa

TUESDAY 11 JULY

Poi wananga

Join local artist Taonga by LJ for a poi wananga at Club Wairarapa. Come along and make a contemporary poi and learn waiata. $20 koha entry.

When 10am-3pm Tuesday 11 July

Where Club Wairarapa, 20 Essex Street Masterton Bookings Yes - please call 06 370 0012

Matariki and Pōhutukawa

Star crafts

Matariki star arts and crafts at the library. All welcome.

When 10:30 - 11:30am Tuesday 11 July

Where Masterton Library, 54 Queen Street Bookings Not required Matariki and Pōhutukawa

WEDNESDAY 12 JULY

A Matariki weaving story

Age Concern Wairarapa welcomes Hamuera Manihera as their guest speaker in this year’s Matariki series.

When 10am - 2pm Wednesday 12 July

Where 10 Herbert Street, Masterton Bookings Yes - please call 06 377 0066 Pōhutukawa

A starry night. Matariki music for flute and harp

A special lunchtime concert featuring the glittering flute and harp duo of Michelle Velvin and Bridget Douglas.

When 12.15 - 12:45pm Wednesday 12 July

Where Aratoi, Wairarapa Museum of Art and History, 12 Bruce Street, Wesley Wing Bookings Not required Matariki

Matariki story-go-round

Come along to the Library to listen to stories about Matariki, followed by an arts and crafts activity.

When 10:30am Wednesday 12 July

Where Masterton Library, 54 Queen Street

Bookings Not required

Matariki

Matariki ki runga Wairarapa ki raro

Join special guest speaker Mike Kawana at Club Wairarapa for a presentation on the Wairarapa and Matariki.

When 7:15 - 8:30pm Wednesday 12 July

Where Club Wairarapa, 20 Essex Street Masterton

Bookings Yes - please call 06 370 0012

Matariki and Pōhutukawa

THURSDAY 13 JULY

Yoga under the moon

Nourish, relax and restore with special lunchtime yoga sessions with Marg Patete. Bring your own mat.

When 12:15 - 12:45pm Thursday 13 July

Where Aratoi, Wairarapa Museum of Art and History, 12 Bruce Street, Wesley Wing Bookings Not required

Matariki and Hiwa-i-te-rangi

Kaumātua luncheon

The Eastside Community Group invite kaumātua to share stories and reflect over kai.

When 12:30 - 3pm Thursday 13 July

Where Te Awhina Community Hub 2 Stuart Crescent, Masterton Bookings Not required

Matariki

Matariki reading challenge finale and disco

Come on down to the Library to wrap up the Matariki Reading Challenge, followed by a disco! There will be arts, crafts, music and dancing. Free. All welcome.

When 4 - 6pm Thursday 13 July

Where Masterton Library, 54 Queen Street

Bookings Not required

Matariki

FRIDAY 14 JULY

Weaving and te reo

Club Wairarapa will be hosting local weaver and te reo teacher Edith Rolls to hold a lesson. $10 koha entry.

When 10am-2pm Friday 14 July

Where Club Wairarapa, 20 Essex Street

Masterton

Bookings Yes - please call 06 370 0012

Matariki and Pōhutukawa

SATURDAY 15 JULY

Riversdale beach Matariki and kite flying

The Riversdale Beach Community Association invites you to a family event on the beach to fly kites and share food.

When 10am - 12 noon Saturday 15 July

Where Riversdale Beach Coast Area between Acacia Ave and Karaka Ave

Bookings Not required Waitī and Pōhutukawa

Community screening of Coco Reo Māori

A free screening of Disney’s ‘Coco’ in te reo Māori. All welcome.

When Time TBC Saturday 15 July

Where Regent 3 Cinema, 230 Queen Street, Masterton.

Bookings Yes. Please collect a ticket from Regent 3 Cinemas. Only 75 available. Matariki

MATARIKI CELEBRATION AT PŪKAHA EVENT

JULY ON THIS SIGNIFICANT DAY OF MATARIKI AND THE INAUGURATION OF TE WĀNANGA TAIAO AT PŪKAHA ON THE 14TH OF JULY, PŪKAHA NATIONAL WILDLIFE CENTRE

WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 1.30PM, WITH GOLD COIN KOHA.

Food for the stars

Matariki atua ka eke mai i te rangi e roa, Divine Matariki come forth from the far-o heaven,

E whāngainga iho ki te mata o te tau e roa e. Bestow the rst fruits of the year upon us.

During the 21st century Māori began to revive the practice of celebrating Matariki. Celebrations for Matariki were popular before the arrival of Europeans in Aotearoa, and they continued into the 1900s. Gradually they dwindled, however, with the last elaborate traditional festivals recorded in the 1940s, although some iwi retained regional knowledge.

The rst star in the cluster, Matariki, is the mother of the other eight stars and is connected to health and wellbeing. Pōhutukawa is the second star and relates to re ection and remembrance of loved ones who have passed.

The third star, Tupuānuku, is associated with food grown in the ground. Next is Tupuārangi, associated with food that comes from the sky and is linked to birds. The fth star is Waitī, connected to fresh water and living creatures in the rivers, streams, and lakes.

Free exhibitions, Programmes, School Holiday Activites, Music and Workshops. SPEND SOME TIME WITH US THIS WINTER

www.aratoi.org.nz/events

The rst modern public Matariki celebrations organised by Ngāti Kahungunu in the year 2000 in Hasting saw about 500 participants. Since then, major events are now put on each year in many places, including Masterton, to give thanks for the harvest and pray for a bountiful planting season. They bring the whole community together as well.

Books by astronomy and mātauranga Māori expert Professor Rangi Matamua (Tūhoe) have helped to reinforce the special place Matariki had for Māori communities in the past, and its connection to Māori understandings of their natural and spiritual world.

Waitā (twin of Waitī) is associated with the ocean and represents food gathered from the sea. Waipuna-ā-rangi is connected to the rain. The eighth star, Ururangi, is associated with wind. The nal star is Hiwa-i-te-rangi which is connected to the promise of a prosperous season. It is also known as the wishing star. It’s the star for New Year’s resolutions.

When Matariki appears on the eastern horizon in mid-winter, many Māori organise a whāngai i te hautapu in which food is cooked in the earth and the stars are fed with the sacred o ering of the steam rising as the kai is removed from its pit. Kai can be chosen to represent each star, such as tuna (eel) for Waitī, tāmure (snapper) for Waitā, heihei (chicken) for Tupuārangi, and kūmara for Tupuānuku.

Wishing everyone a very special Matariki in 2023. With thanks to Te Ara (The Encyclopedia of New Zealand), Te Papa, and the AUT.

Matariki is a time where people, whānau, and communities gather together to remember the year that has passed, to celebrate the present, and to plan for the next year. It is time to remember our loved ones who are no longer with us, to feast and celebrate with our relatives and friends, and to look towards the future and the hope of a season full of bounty

I will celebrate Matariki with a feast with my whānau - Ashton I will remember our loved ones who are no longer with us and with food with my whānau - Cruz

I always do some star gazing with my whānau during Matariki - Jahnay For Matariki, I will be spending time with my whānau - Azaria

We will be celebrating Matariki by having a massive feed and performing at Matariki @ Mākoura Janet and Viliamu

During Matariki, we always get together as a whānau and share kai. We also write our wishes down and throw them in a fire, sending them up to the stars - Emily As a whānau, we stargaze and then have a big breakfast. We always