Matariki is a Maori name for a cluster of stars known as pleiades. It is also a Maori new year. It is a time to catch fish , plant trees, harvest props, remember those who have died, and a time for singing, dancing and to fly kites. During Matariki you can see the stars for most of the year, but then they disappear in late April, the stars then start to appear in mid winter.
Matariki means the eyes of God or little eyes.
The myth is that Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuku the earth were seperated by their children. Tawhirmatea became so angry that he tore his eyes out and threw them into the heavens. In other stories Matariki is the oldest sister that guides her other sisters.
Matariki was once popular in the 1940s but they stopped, it was bought back in the early 2000s. Only a few took part but after a few years thousands of people honoured Matariki day.
The nine names of Matariki is waipunu-a-rangi, tupu-a-rangi, hiwa-i-e-rangi, tupu-a-nuku, waita, ururangi, puhutukawa and lastly Matariki.
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