Matariki

Maori new year legally recognised for first time, prompting excitement and debate over how best to mark the day.

For Karena-Lockyer, there was also excitement associated with seeing the holiday come to the fore – and an opportunity for all New Zealanders to learn more about te ao Māori – the Indigenous culture and worldview. Some business owners, in turn, have said that the addition of another public holiday to the calendar is too great a burden for shops and eateries already struggling with high inflation and low tourism. The holiday centres on three principles: remembrance of those who have died, celebrating the present with family and friends; and looking to the future promise of a new year. Across Aotearoa New Zealand, people have been gathering this week in pre-dawn mornings and icy winter nights to honour Matariki, the Māori new year. At Takaparawhau, overlooking Auckland, 1000 people gathered at dawn for the cracking open of an earth oven, to watch the steam and smoke rise into the dark sky in an offering to the stars. On the volcanic peak of Maungakiekie, astronomers and stargazers huddled in the freezing early morning to see the constellations of the new year rising.

Today, Aoteaora New Zealand officially celebrates Matariki. This is the first time the country will formally recognize Te Ao Māori [the Māori world] with a ...

The appearance of clear and bright Matariki stars traditionally signals a favorable and productive season ahead. As we face global challenges, Aotearoa New Zealand believes that we must continue to be guided by our values and principles. Global prosperity is interdependent and the economic opportunities and challenges are interlinked, so we must work collectively for our shared prosperity. This will be the final step in our staged border reopening and provide access to New Zealand for everyone – including tourists, business representatives, workers, families and students. As we reconnect, rebuild, and work towards recovery, it is now more important than ever to support the essential goal of an open, rule-based, predictable, and non-discriminatory trading and financial system. In New Zealand, Matariki comes into view low on the north-eastern horizon, in the tail of the Milky Way, just before dawn in mid-winter.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has described the first Matariki public holiday as the first waypoint in a journey that could further unite a nation. Speaking at ...

“This celebration gives us a genuine, traditional connection to food and the harvests that lead up to it. You can make a contribution from as little as $1. Be part of our story and help us tell yours. Astronomer Dr Rangi Matamua (Ngāi Tūhoe) is part of the Society Of Māori Astronomy Research & Traditions or SMART, a group who have been instrumental in pushing the Matariki agenda. Coming together for Matariki is part of us gaining a greater understanding of mātauranga Māori and celebrating our unique place in the world.” But also to celebrate everything present that is wonderful, and look forward to summer and next year,” Matamua says. How people connect to each other in the past, present and future, the physical and metaphysical realms, and the environment. Different tribes have different traditional practices related to this time of the year. Eat New Zealand’s chief executive Angela Clifford said the project was an opportunity to start a new tradition. Matahi o te tau, the Māori New Year isn’t just one public holiday day, but a period of time. “If the food is cooked then that’s a good sign, so I’ll be putting my best foot forward to make sure it’s cooked, if not overcooked.” Under the stars of a bright, optimistic, and hopeful Matariki. West End School in Palmerston North held a day of Matariki events taking part in Māori games and activities, including kapa haka, and shared kai.

Today is the first official public holiday recognising Matariki, with New Zealanders around the country enjoying an extra long weekend this year.

Chairperson Marama Royal says there'll be something for everyone — from those who are steeped in Matariki history to the many novices who are just learning about the Māori New Year. For residents of the Waikato, the Matariki Ki Waikato festival takes place from June 17-July 17. So when the cluster rose again, it was time to celebrate the reward of the harvest, reflect on the past year and set hopes for the future. There will also be kai and arts for sale, entertainment from local kapa haka groups and a fireworks display at 8pm. Warm jackets are essential for those who brave the cold in the early hours this weekend. These are the stars we see in the cluster. Not just a day off work, Matariki is about acknowledging the past, present and future. Auckland iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will be holding special events at Bastion Point Marae and other locations. Any areas with little light pollution are recommended as viewing spots. This year the Tangaroa lunar period is from June 21 to 24 and the public holiday is on Friday. Next year the lunar period is between July 10 and 13 and the public holiday date is the 14th. The Matariki cluster is visible across the world and referred to by a number of names in various cultures such as the seven sisters and the Pleiades. The pre-dawn rising of Matariki marks the changing of seasons and the new year in the Māori lunar calendar.

Live - Aotearoa is today marking the start of the Māori New Year Matariki with a public holiday for the first time ever. We'll have the latest on how it is ...

"Today is a moment in time. This is a moment that future generations will look upon and say this is when we came of age," Sir Pou said. We have the latest on how Matariki is being marked around the motu.

Māori academic Associate Professor Anne-Marie Jackson (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu o Whangaroa, Ngāti Wai) is leading the strategic development of the ...

Our graduates achieve highly in their work but also come out the end of the process as a whole person with their mana intact." This is a huge moment for Otago and tertiary education worldwide." "The Centre of Indigenous Science will be one of the first of its kind in Aotearoa, so this is an opportunity to continue to grow an academic department and scholarship based on ngā kaupapa Māori in sciences," Jackson said.

This year Aotearoa New Zealand is celebrating what may be the world's first reintroduced indigenous holiday anywhere in the world, according to Dr. Rangi ...

This is a place to see the full majesty of the night sky. He adds that all people on the planet descend from people who have used stars to tell time, or to navigate, or to know when to hunt and harvest, and when Matariki appears, the celebration therein creates unity. The Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, are also visible this time of year, making stargazing all that more spectacular. This year Aotearoa New Zealand is celebrating what may be the world’s first reintroduced indigenous holiday anywhere in the world, according to Dr. Rangi Matamua, an indigenous studies and Māori cultural astronomy academic of Tūhoe descent. “All the stuff that you carry with you, wherever you are in the world, you take that home and it gets blown away.” “We have a saying: ‘e hoki ki ō maunga kia purea ai e ngā hau o Tāwhirimātea,’ which means ‘return to your homelands and let your spirit be cleansed by the winds of your home.’” At Matariki, you become cleansed and healed, revived and regenerated.

By Julian Wilcox, RNZ presenter. Fires are placed and lights are set on the balcony of Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, a conch rings out across the waha of ...

Keepa concluded with a karakia to acknowledge Tipuanuku, the star within the Matariki cluster connected to food from the earth, and rongoa. Once this was completed, Keepa undertook the umu kohukohu whetu, where Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stepped forth with Dr Rangi Mataamua, and they took the kai being offered in the hautapu ceremony. This also called for that mauri/force to be placed upon all those involved in undertaking the hautapu ceremony. There, looking out across the still harbour of Te Whanganui-a-Tara the tohunga/ruanuku looks to the skies, to see the stars gleaming forth. Then, the previous year will have closed and the new year has dawned: Matariki, te matahi o te tau. Their words will be different, though they reach a similar conclusion which mentions 'Te Huakirangi', the morning being brought forth.

Today's Matariki celebrations signal the maturing of Aotearoa, Sir Pou Temara has said at a hautapu ceremony this morning.

"All of these moments have given me a deep sense of reflection and gratitude, at the chance to witness what will be a historic milestone. Matariki provides us with a chance to reflect, to think of those we have lost and to prepare and share a sense of hope and optimism for the future." "Today is a moment in time.

Today, Aoteaora New Zealand officially celebrates Matariki. This is the first time the country will formally recognize Te Ao Māori [the Māori world] with a ...

The appearance of clear and bright Matariki stars traditionally signals a favorable and productive season ahead. As we face global challenges, Aotearoa New Zealand believes that we must continue to be guided by our values and principles. Global prosperity is interdependent and the economic opportunities and challenges are interlinked, so we must work collectively for our shared prosperity. This will be the final step in our staged border reopening and provide access to New Zealand for everyone – including tourists, business representatives, workers, families and students. As we reconnect, rebuild, and work towards recovery, it is now more important than ever to support the essential goal of an open, rule-based, predictable, and non-discriminatory trading and financial system. In New Zealand, Matariki comes into view low on the north-eastern horizon, in the tail of the Milky Way, just before dawn in mid-winter.

PM Jacinda Ardern says the Matariki celebrations are a waypoint on a long and important journey as New Zealanders embrace kaupapa Māori.

“This celebration gives us a genuine, traditional connection to food and the harvests that lead up to it. You can make a contribution from as little as $1. Be part of our story and help us tell yours. Astronomer Dr Rangi Matamua (Ngāi Tūhoe) is part of the Society Of Māori Astronomy Research & Traditions or SMART, a group who have been instrumental in pushing the Matariki agenda. Coming together for Matariki is part of us gaining a greater understanding of mātauranga Māori and celebrating our unique place in the world.” But also to celebrate everything present that is wonderful, and look forward to summer and next year,” Matamua says. How people connect to each other in the past, present and future, the physical and metaphysical realms, and the environment. Different tribes have different traditional practices related to this time of the year. Eat New Zealand’s chief executive Angela Clifford said the project was an opportunity to start a new tradition. Matahi o te tau, the Māori New Year isn’t just one public holiday day, but a period of time. Under the stars of a bright, optimistic, and hopeful Matariki. “If the food is cooked then that’s a good sign, so I’ll be putting my best foot forward to make sure it’s cooked, if not overcooked.” Schools across the country, like West End School in Palmerston North, held Matariki events taking part in Māori games and activities, including kapa haka, and shared kai.