Matariki Information Report

 ｡o°✥✤✣Matariki Information Report✣✤✥°o｡

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚By Koloa and Ken P*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Matariki is the Maori name for the cluster of stars known as the pleiades or the seven sisters. In some maori myths ‘matariki’ is the eldest sister and guides her younger siblings through the winter. Matariki herds (marks) the start of the maori new year. According to Maori myth, Ranginui the sky Father and Papatuanuku the earth Mother got separated by their children. The god of the wind (Tawhirimatea) their son became so angry that he tore his eyes out and threw them into the heavens. 

Matariki rises in mid-winter, and it’s name means ‘eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). When the Matariki stars shine bright it shows that the year will be warm and hopeful..

Traditionally matariki is a time for remembering loved ones who died in the past year. But it's also a happy time of year. It's a good time for planting and collecting crops, planting trees, going fishing, and to go hunting for birds.  You can also celebrate matariki by dancing, singing, feasting, and making & flying kites.

Matariki was once very popular but sadly stopped in the early 1940’s. Then in the early 2000’s matariki was revived, at first only a few people celebrated. Then just a few years later there were thousands and thousands of people celebrating matariki again. 

Extra Information:

The matariki star cluster consists of 500 stars but 9 are visible without a telescope.

There used to be 7 total matariki stars that could be seen without a telescope but as years passed scientists have discovered that there were a total of 9 stars visible without a telescope of which the names being. Waipuna-a-rangi, Hiwa-i-te-rangi, waita, Pohutukawa, waiti, Urangi, Matariki,, Tupu-a-Nuku, and tupu-a-rangi