Matariki Embracing a New Holiday for all New Zealanders

Matariki-Puanga became a national holiday in Aotearoa-New Zealand in 2022. This year we celebrate Matariki on the Gregorian date of Friday the 28th June 2024. Matariki and Puanga are stars that are an important part of a larger Māori calendar system called the maramataka, which is based on the position of the sun, stars, phases of the moon as well as environmental and ecological indicators. The development of knowledge surrounding Matariki, Puanga and maramataka over the past 30 years has seen both Māori and non-Māori communities embrace the important times associated with these stars. The principle and values of the Matariki holiday were developed by the Matariki Advisory Committee. One of the core values of these values is Mana Taiao, Environmental Awareness. In this talk I will discuss the revitalisation of Matariki, Puanga and the maramataka, the practices and cultural understandings of Matariki and also how we as researchers can contribute to Mana Taiao to contribute to the wellbeing of Papatuanuku.