Matariki is the Maroi name for the cluster of stars known as pleiades, it is also the Maori new year. It is a time to catch fish, plant trees, harvest food, sing, dance,fly kites and to remember those who have died in the last year.ADuring Matariki you can see the stars for most of the year, but then they disappear in late April, stars appear in mid winter.
Matariki means the eyes of God or little eyes. The myth of Matariki is that Ranginui the Sky Father and Papatuanuku the Earth mother, were separated by their children. Tawhiri matea became so angry that he tore out his eyes 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 then they stopped. It was then brought back in the early 2000s. Only a few took part, but after a few years thousands of people honoured Matariki day.
The names of Matariki are Waipuna rangi, Tupu a nuku, Ururangi, Hiwa i te rangi, Waiti, Tupu a nuku, Waita, Pohutukawa and lastly Matariki.
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