Ngā whetū o Matariki
The Stars of Matariki

The star Pōhutukawa plays a central role in the spirits' journey after death. According to Māori tradition, when an individual passes away, their spirit travels along Te Ara Wairua, the pathway of spirits, ending at Te Rerenga Wairua, the northernmost point of the North Island.

Spirits approach an ancient pōhutukawa tree on a rocky ledge overlooking the ocean. They descend the tree's root, known as aka, disappearing into the underworld beneath Maurianuku.

Pōhutukawa is the celestial connection between Matariki and departed souls, prompting loved ones to call out and mourn upon seeing Matariki rise in the early morning sky. Look up at night, and you'll see your ancestors shining brightly among the stars, mainly guided by the star Pōhutukawa.

Matariki has a special connection to gardens and the various foods that grow in the earth. In particular the star Tipuānuku determines the bounty of foods such as kūmara and the name Tipuānuku means to grow in the ground. As Matariki sets in the western sky at dusk around the month of May, the harvesting of the gardens comes to an end and winter approaches. 

Waitī is associated with all freshwater bodies and the food sources that are sustained by those waters.

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The korokoro is the lamprey. These aquatic creatures leave the ocean during the winter, migrating up freshwater streams to spawn. This process occurs when Waitī is seen in the morning sky.

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If Waitī is dim when she rises, the food from freshwater sources will be scarce. If you can see her clearly, it will be bountiful.

Tipuārangi is linked to birds and other elevated foods such as fruit and tree berries. During the rising of Matariki, kererū were harvested in large numbers, cooked, and then preserved in their fat.

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If Tipuārangi is hard to see at Matariki - kai from the sky will be scarce. If she is nice and bright – there will be plenty of food from the sky.

Waipunarangi is associated with the various forms of rain that we experience throughout the year. Rain falls from the sky and washes over the earth, nourishing all living things.

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The pooling of water on the ground caused by heavy and persistent showers in the winter months is referred to as:

Matariki tāpuapua
The pools of Matariki

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If you can’t see Waipunarangi clearly during Matariki, the year will bring lots of rain and maybe some flooding. If she’s bright and clear, the rain will be light.

Waitā is associated with the ocean and all life within this domain. Furthermore, it is said that when Matariki sits just above the water horizon, it has significant influence over the tides of the ocean and the floodwaters.

Hiwa-i-te-Rangi is the youngest star in the Matariki cluster.

She is the star to which our dreams and aspirations are connected.

It is to Hiwa that Māori would send their dreams and desires for the year in the hope that they would be realised. This tradition resembles wishing upon a star or a New Year’s resolution.

Ururangi connects us to the different winds, whetū determines the nature of these winds.

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If Ururangi is hard to see when the cluster of Matariki rises, the year will be windy. If he is bright and clear, the winds will be calm.

Matariki signifies reflection, hope, the gathering of people, and our connection to the environment. It is also connected to people's health and well-being.

At times, Matariki is viewed as an omen of good fortune and health. She is widely known as the mother of the eight stars that make up the cluster of Matariki.

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She is tasked with supporting, watching over, and encouraging her children.

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 If it were seen in the sky when a patient was suffering from an illness it was taken as a sign they would soon recover. This association with health is affirmed in the saying,