The appearance of Matariki in the morning sky is considered vital on its first outing. If the stars in the cluster are clear and bright, it is thought the year ahead will be warm and productive. If they appear hazy and shimmering, an unproductive year is in store.

Matariki indicates a change of season, in particular the start of the cold season. The pātaka (food storehouses) are full, there is no food gathering, fishing, eeling or planting as it is too cold. Matariki is the time to stay indoors and wananga (schools of learning) about genealogy and other important issues to Māori.

As the winter starts to fade around August, it is time to start preparing the land for planting and the cycle of food gathering starts again. As the natural world regenerates and another seasonal round begins, Matariki is a time to pause and reflect – on the year that was, and the year that will be

http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/Education/OnlineResources/Matariki/Pages/overview.aspx

Matariki has many meanings. Some of which are “the face of the gods” “the eyes of the universe”, but what we do know is that this is a time for unselfish acts, a time of giving.

Planning programmes for early childhood around Matariki can be exciting. Why is this so important? So all children of Aotearoa New Zealand can learn about important events that are unique to our place in the world; our culture, our identity.

There is so much information about Matariki on the internet; there are celebrations in your community for Matariki.

Here are just some ideas on how we can celebrate Matariki:

Write songs about Matariki
Tell pūrakau (stories) about Matariki and her 7 daughters
Do art work around Matariki
Write chants about Matariki
Discuss Papatuanuku and how she is linked to Matariki
Prepare the soil for planting
Have a shared kai with our families and whanau
Wish everyone a happy new year “ngā mihi o te tau hou”
Combine a ‘themed night’ with a Matariki kai
 

Karakia ki a Matariki
A karakia to Matariki

Practice & share this karakia daily!!!

Matariki te tawhito

Tau mai te wairua

Mai ngā ira atua

Ki te ira tangata

Tihei mauriora !!!

Matariki the old

Welcome the spirit

welcome the life force

from the essence of atua

to us of the human kind

Let there be life....