Matariki

I Knew that Matariki was the beginning of the Maori new year. Matariki is a cluster of 9 bright shining stars, named Waiti, Waita, waipuna-rangi, Tupu-a-nuku, Tupu-a-rangi, ururangi, Pahutakawa and Hiwaiterangi.


Matariki rises in the north east. It appears in the sky from june 25th - june 28th. It isn't the same date every year it changes. If you look up in the sky with a telescope you can see hundreds of stars but if you look up with the naked eye you can only see a bright shining cluster of about 7-9 stars.


Matariki is a special time to remember those who have passed on.In the olden days, when our tupuna looked up in the sky and saw that Matariki wasn't there they started harvesting and preserving food and crops for the winter and their whanau.

I think Matariki is very special cause it reminds me of my ancestors. Everybodys gets together and sing songs.