In Māori culture, Matariki is the Pleiades star cluster and a celebration of its first rising in late June or early July. The rising marks the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar. Historically, Matariki was usually celebrated for a period of days during the last quarter of the moon of the lunar month Pipiri (around June).

Matariki is known as the Māori New Year in Te Ao Māori (the Māori world view). Closely connected with the maramataka (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.

What is Matariki? Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. It rises in midwinter and for many Māori, it heralds the start of a new year. Iwi across New Zealand understand and celebrate Matariki in different ways and at different times.

Matariki is a special period that connects us to the land, the sky, and each other, through a series of events, traditions, and celebrations that are deeply rooted in Māori culture. Here, we aim to bring the essence of Matariki to life for all New Zealanders and visitors from around the globe.

Matariki is the star cluster most commonly known across the world as Pleiades. This cluster is part of a larger constellation of stars called Taurus. It is one of the earliest recorded groups of stars in human history, with a record that dates back some 17,000 years.

Matariki, also known as the Seven Sisters, is a group of stars that appear in the night sky in New Zealand during the winter months. The Māori New Year begins with the rise of Matariki, which traditionally marks the end of one year and the beginning of another.

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars, that rises in midwinter and for many Māori, heralds the start of the new year. The return of the cluster is commemorated by Te Rā Aro ki Matariki. Early in the morning, just before dawn, is the optimum time to view the Matariki cluster.