Matariki - Māori New Year
Pipiri 2005 - June 2005
Kānapanapa mai ana a Matariki
Matariki shines on the New Year
During Matariki we celebrate our unique place in the world. We give respect to the whenua on which we live, and admiration to our mother earth, Papatuanuku. Throughout Matariki we learn about those who came before us: our history, our family, our bones.
Matariki signals growth. It's a time of change, a time to prepare and a time of action. During Matariki we acknowledge what we have and what we have to give. Matariki celebrates the diversity of life. It's a celebration of culture, language, spirit and people. Matariki is our Aotearoa Pacific New Year.
Matariki is fast becoming the focus for the revitalisation of Māori language. It is a way in which many organisations choose to draw attention to the important place of te reo Māori in Aotearoa. Other traditional knowledge of the Māori world is also highlighted and celebrated.
Matariki tribal celebrations are held at different times by different tribes. For some, feasts are held when it is first seen. For others, it is the full moon after it rises that is celebrated and for others, celebrations are centred on the dawn of the next new moon. Each winter the stars of Matariki and Puanga signal the end of one year and the beginning of the next. Matariki is visible to the naked eye on a clear winter evening after the full moon from early to late June each year. This year Matariki is expected to be visible on Wednesday 8 June. King Tides are another feature of Matariki.
There are many stories about its cultural significance as a navigational star and also as an indication of bountiful harvests. Some iwi believe Matariki is the mother surrounded by her seven daughters.
Ngā Kete Wananga-o-Ōtautahi: Christchurch City Libraries is celebrating Matariki 2005 by weaving a large Whāriki from harakeke. The weaving of this Whāriki will take place in eight libraries around Ōtautahi during Pipiri / June. Simon Rutherford will lead these sessions on the Tuesday and Wednesday of each week and members of the public are encouraged to join in the raranga process with him. The Whāriki will grow over the sessions to be about 7 metres long and over half a metre wide. The finished Whāriki will be gifted to Waitikiri: Parklands Library at its opening as a koha from the people who work in and use the libraries of Ōtautahi.
Ngā Kete Wananga-o-Ōtautahi: Christchurch City Libraries will also be celebrating Matariki with a series of displays around its library network related to different whakatauki/ proverbs.
Matariki Programme for Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi - Christchurch City Libraries
Te wiki tuatahi: Me aro ki te hā o Papatuanuku
Respecting Mother Earth
|
 |
Te wiki tuarua: Māuri tū, māuri ora
Looking forward
 |
|
Te wiki tuatoru: Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora
ai te iwi
Sharing and kindness
|
 |
Te wiki tuawhā: Pinepine te kura, hau te kura
Acknowledging whānau
 |
|
