What is Matariki? Books for adults and kids

Mānawatia a Matariki

Winter brings a time for reflection and celebration in Aotearoa. The Matariki star cluster rises in the winter skies, marking the start of the Māori new year.

What is Matariki?

Traditionally, Māori astronomers meticulously observed the night sky, weaving celestial movements into all facets of life. Matariki wasn't just a new year, it was a time for whānau to reflect on the past year, plan for a bountiful harvest, and celebrate with kai, kōrero and entertainment. 

Matariki is a special time to come together, acknowledge and reflect on the year and look ahead to the future. 

Books about Matariki

How well do you know the stars? As winter chills settle in, why not cosy up with a book from your library. Grow your understanding before the festivities begin with free online access or by visiting your local branch. 

These librarian picks can help you connect with Matariki's celestial story, the significance of each star, and how its arrival shapes our Aotearoa winter. 

Matariki reads for adults

1. Matariki: The star of the year by Rangi Matamua

What is Matariki? Why did Māori observe Matariki? How did Māori traditionally celebrate Matariki? When and how should Matariki be celebrated? This book provides accessible information about its meaning and significance, how to locate Matariki and when, traditional customs and knowledge regarding Matariki and current-day practices.

2. Puanga: Star of the Māori New Year by Sam Rerekura

In Māori mythology, Paonga (a star also known as Rigel in Orion) was believed to be the older brother of Matariki. Many iwi in Aotearoa observed Puanga to mark the beginning of the Māori New Year. His cosmic rising between May and June in the early morning sky signalled the beginning of winter. However, Puanga manifested many deeper meanings between tribes. This book allows us to gaze through a window into the past to understand how Māori perceived the star Puanga in ancient times. 

3. Work of the gods: Tatai Arorangi = Māori astronomy by Kay Leather

Much of the star lore of the Māori has, through the wisdom of the elders, been preserved in the original story form, almost intact. Work of the Gods and the books that follow in this series place in print for the first time a comprehensive analysis of the astronomical knowledge of Māori and the ways it was used.

See full list of Matariki reads for adults

Matariki stories for tamariki

1. Matariki by Gavin Bishop

This bilingual board book for young children shares the meaning behind each star in the Matariki cluster. A perfect read-aloud, linger-over book that opens up understandings for the young reader. The nine stars of Matariki represent the promise of the year to come.

2. How my koro became a star by Brianne Te Paa

A young boy learns about the customs around celebrating Matariki from his grandfather. They watch the stars from the top of a mountain, prepare their offering of food for the gods, and the boy learns about Te Waka o Rangi and the tradition of calling out the names of loved ones who have passed away so that they can become stars. Just before Matariki the following year, the boy's Koro suddenly dies. He gathers and prepares the food offering and asks each family member to come with him up the mountain when Matariki is due to rise, but they all make excuses, and he is disheartened. But when he tells them what Koro taught him, they all climb the mountain before sunrise, follow the rituals Koro carried out and call out Koro's name so that he can become a star.

3. The seven kites of Matariki by Calico McClintock

A fictional retelling of the traditional Matariki story. It was deep mid-winter, and all through the village, preparations were being made to farewell the old year and greet the new. For the first time ever, the seventh little sister, Ururangi, was big enough to make her own celebration kite. But when the seven sisters take the finished kites to fly them, the east wind whips them all away into the sky, where they now appear as the stars of Matariki to welcome the Māori new year.

See full list of Matariki stories for kids

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