Matariki

Reading the stars

During the winter lunar month of Pipiri, observers watch the sky over several nights known as the nights of Tangaroa. In traditional practice, learned elders known as tohunga kōkōrangi studied each star in the cluster. Clear, bright stars promised a mild winter and a plentiful harvest, while dim or shimmering lights warned of harsh weather or scarce resources. Each star governs a specific natural realm. For instance, the clarity of Tupu-ā-rangi signalled the abundance of birds, while Tupu-ā-nuku was tied to crops harvested from the soil. In some regions, people watch for other markers instead, such as the bright star Puanga.

Remembering the departed

Mourning forms a central pillar of Matariki through a ceremony known as te taki mōteatea, the reciting of laments. Tradition holds that the spirits of people who died during the previous year are gathered as the cluster sets in autumn. When the stars reappear before sunrise, these souls are lifted into the sky to become stars themselves. Relatives call out the names of their deceased kin with weeping and songs, releasing their spirits into the heavens. The star Pōhutukawa is specifically linked to this farewell, connecting the living to ancestors and the departing point for spirits returning to the ancestral land of Hawaiki.

The sacred steam offering

The ritual culminates in whāngai i te hautapu, a ceremonial feast offered directly to the celestial cluster. To nourish the stars after their long journey, a small hāngī or ground oven is dug with heated rocks. People place foods that match each star's earthly domain inside the pit, including sweet potato, birds, freshwater catch, and shellfish. Once the oven is uncovered, rising steam carries the essence of the meal upward as an offering. This fragrant steam feeds the star cluster, acknowledging its role in guiding seasonal rhythms and sustaining life across the lands and waters.

Revival and modern observance

Although widespread observance waned during the twentieth century, cultural revitalisation gained strong momentum in the early 1990s. Today, communities across New Zealand mark the season with dawn gatherings, communal meals, and storytelling. While different tribes follow their own regional markers and traditional calendars, the occasion remains a time of renewal and family unity. In 2022, New Zealand established Matariki as an official nationwide public holiday, setting its observance on a Friday in midwinter according to the phases of the Māori lunar calendar.

How Matariki is kept

Celebrations take place over several mornings during the last quarter of the winter moon. Elders and families gather before dawn to search the eastern horizon for the star cluster. Once sighted, priests and elders read the stars to foresee the climate and food supply for the coming season. Next, participants speak the names of family members who passed away over the previous year, offering songs of grief. Finally, people prepare a small pit oven with fish, birds, and sweet potatoes, opening the pit so sacred steam rises into the dawn sky to feed the stars.

When and where

Matariki falls in late June or early July during the Māori lunar month of Pipiri. Celebrations occur during the last quarter of the moon across three or four nights known as the nights of Tangaroa, ending just before the new moon appears.

This tradition is observed throughout New Zealand. Certain iwi, especially in the far north, Taranaki, the Chatham Islands, and parts of the South Island, mark the season by watching for the star Puanga rather than Matariki.

What Matariki means

According to tradition, the stars are the eyes of Tāwhirimātea, the god of wind, which he cast into the sky after the separation of earth and sky. Matariki embodies three core ideas: remembering those who have died, celebrating present life and harvest, and planning for the year ahead under the guidance of the celestial realm.

On the table

• Kūmara
• Kererū
• Korokoro
• Freshwater fish
• Shellfish

Days Matariki is marked

Matariki dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

Questions people ask about Matariki

See also

Advent wreathAn evergreen ring of candles lit week by week in the lead-up to ChristmasLosarThe Tibetan Buddhist New Year festival of renewal, offerings, and family feastsUgadiA South Indian New Year feast celebrating life with sweet, sour, and bitter tastesDouble Ninth FestivalAn autumn festival of mountain walks, chrysanthemum wine and ancestor remembrance

Good reading and sources

• Matariki: ‘historic’ moment as New Zealand celebrates first Indigenous public holidayThe Guardian, Article
• Matariki: ‘historic’ moment as New Zealand celebrates first Indigenous public holidayThe Guardian, Article

• Matariki on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.