Next: 25 Jun 2027
Matariki
The Maori new year, when the Pleiades star cluster rises before dawn in mid-winter, with remembrance, food and stories.
When is Matariki in 2027?
Matariki 2027 is on Friday, 25 June 2027. Other years: 2026, Friday, 10 July 2026; 2028, Friday, 14 July 2028.
About Matariki
Matariki is the Maori name for the Pleiades, a cluster of stars whose reappearance in the pre-dawn sky in June or July marks the Maori new year, and is a time to remember those who have died in the past year, to celebrate the present and to plan for the future. It has been a public holiday in New Zealand since 2022, the first to recognise Maori culture, and the date is set each year on a Friday close to the new moon of the lunar month of Tangaroa. The stars are each linked to a domain, such as the winds, food from the land, fresh water and the sea. People gather at dawn for karakia, prayers, share a hakari, or feast, light fires, fly kites, and tell stories. The name Matariki also means the "eyes of god".
Matariki dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Matariki date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, 10 July 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday, 25 June 2027 |
| 2028 | Friday, 14 July 2028 |
What is eaten
- hangi
- kumara
- seafood
- soup
Traditions of Matariki
Also part of it, and being written: Pleiades in folklore and literature (The cluster's place in many cultures.), Hakari (The ceremonial feast.).
More marked on Matariki
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Matariki" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.