matariki

What is Matariki?

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars . It rises in mid winter late May or early June. For many Māori, its the start of a new year.

 Matariki was a time to remember those who had died in the last year. But it was also a happy event  crops had been harvested and seafood and birds had been collected. With plenty of food in the storehouses, Matariki was a time for singing, dancing and feasting.
The brighter the stars indicated the warmer the season would be and a more productive crop. It was also seen as an important time for family to gather.