Understanding Māori Culture - Matariki
Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster.
It rises during Pipiri (June/July) and marks the beginning of the Māori new year. The word is an abbreviation of Ngā Mata o te Ariki (Eyes of God) in reference to Tāwhirimātea, god of the wind and weather. In the story of creation, Tāne Mahuta (god of the forest) separated his parents Ranginui and Papatūānuku, and his brother Tāwhirimātea got upset and tore out his eyes, crushed them into pieces and thew them into the sky.
Traditionally, Maori iwi, or communities, would gather together at night during a time of the constellation's prominence, making use of the period between harvests to celebrate and make offerings for a bountiful future.
When Matariki disappeared in April/May, it was time to preserve crops for the winter season. When it re-appeared in June/July its appearance was said to predict the success of the season ahead; clear bright stars are a good omen and hazy stars predict a cold, harsh winter. The brightness of each individual star predicts the fortunes of a specific thing that star represents, such as the wind or food that grows in trees.
Living the good life in retirement, a Stuff-Metlifecare partnership
Kia ora team
Our special partnership with Metlifecare continues, and we have some great content to share with readers about people living their best lives in retirement.
This issue we look at some of the worthwhile volunteer roles retirees are filling in our communities, learn about mindfulness at any age, and check out some Kiwi beach travel options while the good weather lasts.
Don’t forget to try out our nostalgia quiz - it’s for anyone who wants to test the Kiwi knowledge they’ve picked up over the past four, five, six or more decades.
Joanna Davis
Homed Editor
Think You Know It All? Try Solving This First!
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Are you keeping it old school?
We know that things come back around, look at vinyl records!
Do you still use any old-school technology (like landlines or VHS tapes) at home?
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