For the first time ever, New Zealand is celebrating Matariki as a Public Holiday!
It's so exciting and wonderful, in my opinion
Matariki is both the name of a star cluster (also known as Pleiades or the seven sisters) and of the celebration of it first rising in the sky. It marks the start of the New Year in the Māori lunar calender.
It is a time of coming together, reflecting, and as with all big human holidays, sharing kai (food). I'm really happy our government has decided to finally officially recognise this major holiday of our mana whenua.
The following is from Te Papa's website about Matariki
Matariki is the star that signifies reflection, hope, our connection to the environment, and the gathering of people. Matariki is also connected to the health and wellbeing of people.
Waitī is associated with all fresh water bodies and the food sources that are sustained by those waters.
Waitā is associated with the ocean, and food sources within it.
Waipuna-ā-rangi is associated with the rain.
Tupuānuku is the star associated with everything that grows within the soil to be harvested or gathered for food.
Tupuārangi is associated with everything that grows up in the trees: fruits, berries, and birds.
Ururangi is the star associated with the winds.
Pōhutukawa is the star associated with those that have passed on.
Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the star associated with granting our wishes, and realising our aspirations for the coming year