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Friday 14 June 2019

What is Matariki!

Matariki is a signal for the Maori New Year. Matariki also known as Te Papa
it is a time of renewal and celebration in New Zealand. Te Papa begins with the
rising of the Matariki star cluster. The cluster of stars are also known as the Pleiades
of the seven sisters. Matariki is mainly a star cluster which appears in the night sky
during mid-winter. According to the Maramataka aka the Maori lunar calendar.


Matariki the cluster of stars the Pleiades of the seven sisters, the name of the stars
themselves are very different. Ururangi, Tupu-a-rangi, Waipuna Rangi, Tupu-a-nuku,
Matariki, Waita and Waiti are the names of the seven stars. Matariki star cluster literally
means the eyes of god mata ariki or little eyes matariki.


Related imageTe papa is celebrated by when the stars rise in the last few days of May.
This symbolizes the coming of the Maori New Year. Some iwi or tribes. They start
celebrations when Matariki is first seen. However it is the first new moon after Matariki
that officially signals the Maori New Year.


1 comment:

  1. Hello Te Raiana, We like the way you have a picture so we can see the Matariki stars. We have learnt that there is two different names for the Matariki stars, the other name is Te Papa. Next time click preview so you see if the writing has gone off the page.

    From Learning Hub 9 Gisborne Intermediate, https://gisintchurch.blogspot.com/

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