WelCom June/July 2024
Matariki: 29 June–6 July 2024
Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars that appears in the morning sky in Aotearoa New Zealand during midwinter, between late June and early July. In 2024, Matariki is celebrated from 29 June to 6 July, with a national public holiday on Friday 28 June.
Matariki is an abbreviation of ‘Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea’ meaning ‘The eyes of the God Tāwhirimātea’ – referring to the cluster of stars known as the Pleiades.
These stars, also known as the Seven Sisters, can be viewed from across the world and are venerated in many global cultures and societies.
Linked to the Maramataka – or the Māori lunar calendar – the appearance of the Matariki star cluster marks the Māori New Year, or Te Mātahi o te Tau. It symbolises the closure of one year and the beginning of the next, signalling a time to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present and plan for the future. It’s a time to spend with whānau and friends – to enjoy kai, waiata, tākaro (games) and haka.
The core value of Matariki is Mātauranga Māori, or the ancestral knowledge and wisdom passed down through generations of Māori whānau.
Tūpuna (ancestors) would look to Matariki for help with their harvesting. When Matariki disappeared in April/May, it was time to preserve crops for the winter season. When it re-appeared in June/July, tūpuna would read the stars to predict the upcoming season. Clear and bright stars promised a warm and abundant winter while hazy stars warned of a bleak winter.
The Matariki dates shift annually to align with the maramataka. In 2024, Matariki is celebrated from 29 June to 6 July, with a national public holiday on Friday 28 June. Early in the morning, just before dawn, is the optimum time to view the Matariki cluster.
Sources: mch.govt.nz; matariki.twoa.ac.nz
