Magical Matariki

What is Matariki?

Matariki is the Maori New Year and the seven stars. The 7 stars shine brightly in the sky and they are in a group. The seven stars appear in late May or early June and there is a new moon it is the beginning of the Maori new year. The stars disappear in Aotearoa in late April. The stars have another name called the 7 sisters. Matariki is the name of the eldest sister. She is guiding her younger sisters to their place. When the seven stars shine brightly it will  be warm also it will be good for growing crops and gathering seafood. We celebrate Matariki in lots of different ways. We weave flax and fly kites. We tell stories from the past. We learn about how the Maori people used the stars. It’s a time to forgive and forget the problems of the past. We make plans for the future.