Matariki

The Star Fishes

Long, long ago a mother ika told her tamariki to keep close to the rocks and don’t go into the open sea because Tataraimaka is out fishing.

Tataraimaka was a giant who had an enormous black net made out of harakeke. This net was magic.

The sun was shining its brightest which caused the seven fish's tails to reflect as they played tag. They forgot about their mama’s warning.

Then there was a major disaster. The seven ika got caught in the net. The seven fishes cried salty tears. Tane the God of Light felt sorry for the little ika and took away Tataraimaka’s net and pulled it up into the sky.

The seven ika are now called Matariki. You can see Matariki in early June on the horizon. This time marks the first month of the Maori year. The names of the six stars are – Waiti, Waita, Tupu-a-nuku, Tupu-a-rangi, Ururangi and Waipuna-a-rangi. One star remains nameless so that  is left for a tamariki who feels lonely to put their ingoa on just before going to sleep. This means they will have company among the star fishes.

Try out this link:-
A Story of Matariki

 

What is it? 

Matariki is a small group of stars that is used by many Maori Tribes (but not all) to mark the beginning and the end of the year. Maori are not the only people to use these stars as a seasonal marker; they have captivated people all over the world, being a major signpost in the sky for many of  Earth's older cultures.

Matariki is a Māori word that can be translated as tiny eyes, or eyes of God. It is also the name for the Māori New Year celebration and the Māori name for the small group of stars (Pleiades) that drop below the horizon in April and reappear in June. When this happens, it is the signal for the Māori New Year to start. 
Early Māori sailors used these stars to help them find their way. 

What happens? 

Different tribes celebrate Matariki in different ways. In the past, it was a time to:
 • Finish storing up food for the winter.
 • Create new woven clothes and baskets.  
 •  Remember our ancestors and listen to old tribal stories.
 • Learn about the natural world. 
 • Learn to play string games. 
• Celebrate the coming year. 
• Make, decorate and fly kites.

Matariki stories

There are many different stories about Matariki. 
One is that Matariki is a mother with her six daughters around her. Another is that the god Tahwhirimatea was angry that the Sky (Ranginui) and the Earth (Papatuanuku) were separated and tore out his eyes and threw them into the sky to comfort Ranginui. 
Other countries also have their own stories about these stars.

How to find Matariki

Matariki is found low on the horizon in the north east of the sky. Try looking there between 5.30 a.m. and 6.30 a.m.

To find Matariki in the sky you first need to look for the pot. If you draw a straight line from the pot towards North (your left) you will first stumble across a cone-shaped formation of stars. That is Matakaheru or the Hyades. Follow the line to the left and you will find Matariki.

Follow the link below to find out more.

Matariki - Christchurch Libraries