Matariki mā Puanga

Matariki mā Puanga

Celebrating together

Matariki mā Puanga means Matariki (Pleiades) and Puanga (Rigel) and this phrase acknowledges the relationship between these stars. Both Matariki and Puanga rise in the eastern sky before the sun during the winter period, however some tribes and regions of the country look to Puanga instead of Matariki as the main marker of the New Year.

While the stars that mark the beginning of the New Year may vary in some regions the themes that underpin the ceremony and celebration are the same. We acknowledge our past, celebrate the present and look forward to a bright and prosperous future. The phrase Matariki mā Puanga is essentially a reminder that regardless of our different backgrounds, origins, and practices we use this celebration to come together and share the many unique elements that shape our identity.

• The 2025 theme of Matariki mā Puanga is all about inclusion, embracing diversity and celebrating Matariki together

• Matariki and Puanga are stars that sit in the night sky together to signal the start of the Māori new year for different iwi.

• Matariki mā Puanga acknowledges and embraces the different traditions, stars and tikanga around celebrating the Māori New Year, recognising the regional variations

• We can all connect to the core values of Matariki and Puanga and embrace the diverse ways for marking the new year
  
  Mātauranga (traditional knowledge) is not held by one person in one place – it is held by many people across the motu. We can all play a part in learning and sharing mātauranga so that regional Matariki or Puanga traditions thrive for generations.
  
  The Puanganui website shares kōrero tuku iho (traditional stories) about Puanga from the perspective of Te Taiuru – the iwi of Taranaki, Whanganui and Rangitīkei.

Reference/Source: https://www.matariki.com/about

living by the stars web series

ngā whetū heri kai (the stars that bring the essence' or 'the bounty of food