Matariki: the star of the year

by Rangi Matamua

In mid-winter, Matariki rises in the pre-dawn sky, and its observation is celebrated with incantations on hilltops at dawn, balls, exhibitions, dinners and a vast number of events. The Matariki tradition has been re-established, and its regeneration coincides with a growing interest in Māori astronomy. Still, there remain some unanswered questions about how Matariki was traditionally observed. These
What is Matariki?
Why did Māori observe Matariki?
How did Māori traditionally celebrate Matariki?
When and how should Matariki be celebrated?

Based on research and interviews with Māori experts, this book seeks answers to these questions and explores what Matariki was in a traditional sense so it can be understood and celebrated in our modern society.

Genres: Nonfiction, Astronomy, Indigenous, Environment

127 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

All about Matariki: the star, the constellation (aka Pleiades), the festival - what they mean and are associated with. A clear, accessible, comprehensive and fascinating book that's not just about Matariki but also gives glimpses into Māori astronomy and star lore more generally - such as the names Māori have for each night of the moon's cycle, and the fact they could see the moons of Jupiter with the naked eye. Maybe we could too with no light pollution! I saw a couple of those moons last night with a telescope.
This book would be great for school projects, and covers Matariki's influence on or significance to everything from on planting, harvesting and fishing to navigation. It's well referenced and indexed too. After reading it I'm even more in favour of recognising the festival of Matariki here in Aotearoa. We need something fun, festive and meaningful in midwinter! Ka pai ou mahi, Rangi Matamua, kia ora rā.

[Nick Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matariki - Te Whetū Tapu o te Tau (the star of the year). A concise and accessible introduction for anyone wanting to obtain a better understanding of the Māori Matariki tradition within its original cultural context. A timely read with the first observation of Matariki as a national public holiday in New Zealand this year.

[Merryn Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is wonderfully readable but at times took on an academic tone that distanced the reader (perhaps a result of the authors work). I feel this could have been more engaging but overall is a great seminal text!

[Mia Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique perspective that reopens the knowledge around Matariki that was once thought to be closed. Easy to consume despite being historical and technical.

[Renee Waiwiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great read! The content was easy to understand and the images provided added really good context to the deep pūrākau in the book. I feel so much more confident now that I know the history of Matariki

[Chloe Fergusson-Tibble · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚📚📚📚📚REVIEW📚📚📚📚📚
🐈: ✨🌟💫🪐🌚🌙🌒🌖🌓
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👩🏽‍⚕️: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oh my atua! This book is absolutely amazing. What an incredible taonga from Dr Rangi Matamua (Tūhoe). The biggest five stars ever. A massive YES!
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“Matariki ki tua o ngā whetū; Matariki of endless possibilities.”
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I just can not tell you how beautiful this dazzling book is 🤩. It is so readable - basically an extended essay with the MOST GORGEOUS PICTURES. It is chocka full of gems about Matariki, the whakapapa, how and where to see it in the sky, when to celebrate, and how it was celebrated in traditional times. The book links Matariki to death, food, navigation, and weather. It describes Matariki in an international and national context and transports us to the time of our ancestors, uncovering the important traditions and what they mean.
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My husband knew so much more than me (of course) but we both learnt many things from the gorgeous book and we will be raving about it to all who will listen from here on in. We will also incorporate these learnings into our yearly celebrations of Matariki. So many pūrākau which have connected the dots for us and we so look forward to incorporating all our learnings into our yearly celebrations of Matariki 🌟💫
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It is one thing to celebrate Matariki each year and another to understand why and how to do it in a way that’s meaningful and consistent with our traditions. This is a book for those on their decolonising mission - both Māori and non-Māori. It’s available in both te reo Māori and Pākehā.
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Ngā mihi nui ki a koe e te rangatira Rangi Matamua! You just smashed it. WOW.
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Massive shout out to @huiapublishers for always always always publishing our knowledge. Our whānau appreciates you! 👏

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be impossible to rate a book that contains the kind of information that this book does in any other way. Especially when you take into consideration the source material that was available to the author. It is a thoroughly researched and deeply passionate piece of writing, which could easily make it a heavy read. It is not.

This is a book intented to be accessible to anyone. Additionally it reminded me just how impactful pictures can be, and I genuinely think more books need to start implementing pictures. But that could also just be my ADHD talking.


Highly recommended for anyone that has an interest in cosmology, myth and legends, traditions, culture, Māori specific knowledge or is just looking for a niche read that makes you feel like you've come out at the other end knowing a little more about something you knew very little about in the beginning.

[Chelsea Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book # 29 for 2022

Matariki goes by many names throughout the world, including the Seven Sisters.

This star cluster played a huge part in the lives of Māori and this book explains how they were connected to death, food, weather, harvests, leisure and even wishing upon a star!

As Matariki is now being celebrated in Aotearoa with a public holiday and fireworks as well as many other activities, it is great to know why they are associated with Māori New Year and how Māori traditionally celebrated.

This book includes mythology and some easy to understand explanations as well as amazing illustrations and photographs.

Possible prompts:

PopSugar 2022:
#35 A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title
#42 Features two languages

52 Book Club 2022
#5 Chapters have titles
#11 less than 2022 ratings on Goodreads - 71 at time of writing.
#14 Character with Superhuman ability
#24 Addresses a specific topic
#27 Includes a map
#40 Photographs inside

[Ellen Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - I loved this book & wish i owned it. The history behind the constellation itself is fascinating, but finding out more about things like the maramataka, te waka o rangi, and the intricate, vast knowledge of tohunga kōkōrangi was truly remarkable.

Plus the fact that so many cultures across history and space have incorporated these stars into their own local lore is truly mind blowing. This book has got me so excited for haratua then pipiri this year!

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If, like me, you’ve been overseas for a while and have lagged behind in basic Maori knowledge, this is a fabulous book to know why Matariki is such an important celebration in Aotearoa.

[Rachel Horwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hūro
Excellent book to deepen knowledge about Matariki.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very in depth, would be an amazing resource for someone researching Maori astrology

[Cheyenne Davidson-August · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great in-depth understanding of Matariki and how our ancestors celebrated and how to revive the tradition in our current lives. It works in really well with the Wawata book 🙌🏽

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: mentions of death

[Anna Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read. I read on Matariki 2025. I had to re read afew pages as my understanding was slightly hard. Ka Rawe!

[Silas McClintock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that can be returned to many times, as it's got so much info on living w the stars

[Dan Organ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auahi ana!
Rawe!
Miharo!

[Alastair McClymont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be a school text book. Impossible not to embrace Matariki as a public holiday after reading this short, accessible, concise and fun book.

[Cat Randle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. It's a mix of Polynesian history, academic treatise and astronomy all wrapped around Matariki. In NZ, Matariki is now a public holiday. I have been watching with interest because NZ needs a mid-winter festival to break the monotony.
When I went to the UK, it seemed they had a holiday every six weeks. Not true, but NZ works harder and has fewer public holidays. Christmas makes more sense in winter, but mid-winter isn't the start of the new year if you use the Gregorian calendar.
The Maori calendar is a lunar cycle, and New Year was observed when Matariki rose. A lot of other important rituals were also a part. Author Rangi Matamua noted modern Matariki needs to look forward and backwards to truly embrace the heritage it has come from.
This book looks at Matariki history in context with other indigenous and ancient races. He also looks to the future. The amazing part of this book is the history. His great and grandfather has the common sense to write all they had learnt before the ancient knowledge was lost.
"The first European settlers...were astounded by the large amount of astronomical knowledge maintained by the Maori," P3
The lore was taught in whare Kokorangi. Maori also had very keen eyesight, better than their European counterparts.
My favourite part of this book was the names of the stars and the Maori lore about their gods. They are also drawn in beautiful linework.
For me, this book was a trifecta of things I like, astronomy, Maori lore, spiritual history and excellent Maori narrative. This is a book I will be getting out of the library over and over again.

[tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

soooo close to five stars but the writing started to go in circles quite a bit - other than that WOWWW