Matariki
Guide to the date, history, cultural origins and celebration traditions of Matariki in New Zealand.
History & Origins of Matariki
Matariki is the Maori New Year holiday in New Zealand, celebrated in mid-winter when the Matariki Pleiades star cluster rises in the dawn sky. Formally established as a national public holiday in 2022, it represents a deeply significant indigenous milestone focused on three principles: remembering those who have passed, celebrating the present with family, and planning for the future harvest.
How It Is Observed & Celebrated
Marked by early morning star-gazing gatherings, lighting traditional fires (hautapu) where food is cooked to feed the stars, public light shows, and large community feasts sharing harvested crops.
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