This is what each of the nine stars of Matariki represent

Mānawatia a Matariki!

We celebrate Matariki this long weekend, also known as the Māori New Year in Te Ao Māori. 

Closely connected with the Māori lunar calendar, the reappearance of the Matariki stars in the early morning sky brings the past year to a close and marks the beginning of the new year. 

 But did you know there are nine stars in the Matariki cluster, and each one carries its own powerful meaning?

What the 9 Matariki stars mean:

Matariki (Alcyone)

Significance: Mother star and conductor of the cluster
Represents: Health, well-being, hope, and the gathering of people

Pōhutukawa (Sterope)

Significance: Linked to the deceased
Represents: Remembering loved ones and facilitating their journey to the afterlife

Tupuānuku (Pleione)

Significance: Tied to crops from the earth
Represents: Cultivated and root food sources

Tupuārangi (Atlas)

Significance: Connected to the forest and sky
Represents: Foods that grow in trees and birds

Waitī (Maia)

Significance: Related to freshwater environments
Represents: Freshwater bodies and their food sources

Waitā (Taygeta)

Significance: Linked to the sea
Represents: Ocean and sea creatures

Waipuna-ā-rangi (Electra)

Significance: Connected to rain
Represents: Rainfall and its nourishing role

Ururangi (Merope)

Significance: Associated with the wind
Represents: Air and seasonal change

Hiwa‑i‑te‑rangi (Celaeno)

Significance: The "wishing star"
Represents: Hopes, dreams, aspirations, and granting wishes
 Photo / Creative Commons

What’s the focus for Matariki in 2025?

This year’s theme is “Matariki mā Puanga”, celebrating unity across iwi and traditions. While many mark the Māori New Year by the rising of Matariki (Pleiades), others – particularly in parts of the west and south - observe Puanga (Rigel).

In 2025, there’s a special emphasis on:

• Celebrating diversity in how Matariki is recognised across Aotearoa

• Honouring both traditions: Matariki and Puanga

• Bringing people together through shared stories, kai, reflection, and hope

Whether you're setting intentions under Hiwa-i-te-rangi, remembering loved ones with Pōhutukawa, or simply taking a moment to connect with whānau, Matariki 2025 is a time to pause, breathe, and look both back and forward with purpose.

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