Matariki: Māori New Year and the Revival of Indigenous Astronomy
The Australian Museum highlights the significance of Matariki, the Māori New Year star cluster, in Aotearoa New Zealand, both culturally and astronomically. Traditionally, Māori utilized the maramataka for agricultural and timekeeping purposes. Although traditional knowledge waned after European contact, it experienced a revival, culminating in Matariki being recognized as New Zealand's inaugural Indigenous public holiday in 2022. This star cluster, located in Taurus, contains approximately a thousand stars; some iwi identify seven (with Matariki as the mother and six daughters) or nine, each associated with different life aspects. In less prominent areas, Puanga (Rigel) signifies the new year. Worldwide, the Pleiades are referred to as Krittika in Hindu lore and Mata'ali'i in Sāmoa. Māori communities in Australia also commemorate Matariki through festivals.
Key facts
- Matariki marks the Māori New Year in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- The maramataka (lunar calendar) was used by Māori for timekeeping and navigation.
- Matariki became Aotearoa New Zealand's first Indigenous public holiday in 2022.
- The Matariki cluster contains about a thousand stars in the constellation Taurus.
- Some iwi recognize seven stars, others nine, each with distinct purposes.
- Pōhutukawa and Hiwa-i-te-rangi stars were preserved in manuscripts by Te Kōkau Himiona Te Pikikotuku and Rāwiri Te Kōkau.
- Puanga (Rigel) marks the new year in regions where Matariki is less visible.
- The Pleiades are known as Krittika in Hindu mythology, traceable to the Indus Valley civilisation around 2300 BCE.
- French Polynesia recognized Matari'i i Ni'a as a national holiday in 2025 in Pape'ete, Tahiti.
- Māori communities in Australia celebrate Matariki with festivals like in Blacktown, Western Sydney.
Entities
Institutions
- Australian Museum
- Tūhoe
- Ngāti Pikiao
Locations
- Aotearoa New Zealand
- New Zealand
- Pacific Ocean
- Te Taihauāuru
- West Coast
- Te Waipounamu
- South Island
- Australia
- Western Desert
- Mediterranean
- Indus Valley
- Sāmoa
- Hawai'i
- Kingdom of Tonga
- French Polynesia
- Pape'ete
- Tahiti
- Blacktown
- Western Sydney
- Te Moana-a-Rehua
- Tasman Sea