Matariki Puanga

Growing your own food is a great way to prepare for hautapu. If you don't have access to outdoor garden space, a community garden in your suburb might be an option.

Winter is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labour, and sharing your harvest with friends and whānau can be especially rewarding. It’s also a great time to plan for spring and consider what to plant.

In the past, it was a common practice to offer food from the gardens to the community hautapu ceremony as a way of showing gratitude for the gifts provided by the environment. By setting aside some of your harvest for the hautapu, you can bring back this tradition and apply it in your own whānau and community.

Puanga

Puanga (Rigel) is the herald of Matariki. It is a time to wānanga, to restore faith and hope for the future, a time for whanaungatanga, to be with others, share stories and kai, and celebrate who we are. As well as marking the beginning of a new year, it also signals other new beginnings.

Ururangi

Ururangi (Merope) is close friends with te whānau puhi (the wind family) – including Hauraro (the north wind), Tonga (the south wind), Hauāuru (the west wind), and Marangai (the east wind). He encourages us to get to know this family well, embrace its strength and prepare for any challenges it creates.

Waitī

Waitī (Maia) watches over our freshwater environments. Our awa (rivers), roto (lakes), kūkūwai (wetlands), and waipuna (springs). As the waters flow, she sees how they support us, provide for us, connect us, and sustain us. She encourages us to listen, and to learn from them.

Waipuna-ā-rangi

Waipuna-ā-rangi (Electra) welcomes the winter sky waters in all their forms – ua (rain), ua nganga (hail), and hukarere (snow). She sees how these waters contribute to the healthy cycle of our earth and the effects when they don’t arrive. Waipuna-ā-rangi encourages us to reflect about climate change, and what we can do today to lessen the problem.

Tupu-ā-nuku

Tupu-ā-nuku (Pleione) has a special interest in our edible plants. This includes the natives pūhā (sowthistle), kawakawa (pepper tree), kōkihi (NZ spinach), and tī kōuka (cabbage tree). In watching the preparations for their growth and harvest, she has come to understand the importance of healthy soil. Tupu-ā-nuku encourages us to consider more carefully what we are putting into Papatūānuku (the earth), and in what quantities.

Tupu-ā-rangi

Tupu-ā-rangi (Atlas) has long looked out for the ngahere (forests), and he is deeply concerned by the collapse he is witnessing. Our native wildlife – manu (birds) and bats, mokomoko (lizards), and ngārara (bugs) – are being ravaged by introduced pests and predators. As are our ancient rākau (trees) – like tōtara, pūriri, pōhutukawa and rātā. Tupu-ā-rangi encourages us to take action to help to bring our forests back to life again.

Hiwa-i-te-rangi/Hiwa

Hiwa-i-te-rangi/Hiwa (Celaeno) is the youngest star. She is a wishing star, who helps us to recognise our hopes, dreams and aspirations for the coming year. She encourages us to hold firm to our goals, and seek out opportunities and see them realised.

Waitā

Waitā (Taygeta) surveys our vast oceans, e Moana-nui-o-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean) and Te Tai-o-Rehua (the Tasman Sea). Biodiversity is essential to our world. Our actions need to support it and enhance it.

Pōhutukawa

Pōhutukawa (Sterope/Asterope) holds tight to our memories of treasured people who have passed away. She encourages us to take time to remember them, and to acknowledge their impact on our lives.

Matariki

Matariki (Alcyone) Matariki is the Mother of the stars in the constellation. She gathers the people together, and connects them with our environment. She inspires us, the people, to do the same.

Hautapu or umu kohukohu whetū is a ceremony practised during Matariki Puanga. Its purpose is to make an offering to the stars. Usually, this offering consists of kai and karakia.

The hautapu consists of three phases: preparing, offering, and eating kai. Gather your whānau around the table and recite the karakia set out below, at any of the phases.

Traditionally, it was the responsibility of our tāne to ensure that the feast was top-notch. This was seen as the ultimate display of manaakitanga and aroha for loved ones. This is the perfect opportunity for our men to step into the shoes of our ancestors and show love, care and appreciation for the whānau.

Our amazing city has many stargazing vantage points to climb! We encourage you to plan ahead and set your alarm clock early to catch the Matariki cluster at dawn. It may take a few tries to see the stars so don't be disheartened if you don't spot them first time around!

James Stellin Memorial Park
In Northland on Tinakori Hill, James Stellin Memorial Park has stunning 180-degree views over the city to the harbour as well as neat night sky viewing opportunities.

Homebush Park
Located on Homebush Road in Khandallah, this hidden playground down a gravel track has breathtaking views over Wellington harbour and the wide-open skies above.

Tawatawa Reserve
A large flat dog-friendly area located on Quebec Street, between the suburbs of Owhiro Bay, Kingston, and Island Bay.

Ataturk Memorial Park
The Ataturk Memorial Park lookout can be accessed from the Tarakena Bay car park on Breaker Bay Road.

Waihinahina Park
Located on Ladbrooke Drive in Newlands, Waihinahina Park is an open-grassed area surrounded with regenerating bush – an ideal spot for stargazing Matariki on a clear night!

Karakia mō Matariki 
Manawa maiea te putanga o Matariki, 
Manawa maiea te ariki o te rangi, 
manawa maiea te mātahi o te tau, 
kia puta ki te whai ao ki te ao mārama. 

Karakia mō Puanga 
Tērā a Puanga ka rewa i te pae 
He tohu ki te ao 
Ka poroporoaki te po 
Ka mihi ki te tau hou 
Ka rewa a Puanga, kia hono ki a Matariki.