Pod 10 Hurupaki School

Matariki 

What is Matariki?

Matariki is a group of stars called the seven sisters.

Every year seven stars come out called the seven sisters of Matariki.  The first time the stars come out is on the 6th of June every year.  When the  Matariki stars  rise into the skies of New Zealand, it signals a month-long celebration across the country for the Māori New Year.   Matariki means ‘eyes of the god’ or ‘little eyes’. Some say that when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were separated by their children, the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became angry, tearing out his eyes and  throwing them into the heavens. Others say Matariki is the mother surrounded by her six daughters.