The Stars of Matariki
Find out about the stars that make up the Matariki constellation and their relationship to different aspects of te ao Māori.
About this resource
Series: Junior Journal 67 June 2024
Reading year level: 3
Topics: constellations, Mānawatia a Matariki, Māori, Māori New Year, maramataka, Matariki, moon, night sky, Papatūānuku, Pleiades, Puaka, Puanga, Ranginui, Rehua, Seven Sisters, star clusters, stars, Tāwhrimātea, te Mātahi o te Tau
The Stars of Matariki
Words by Pauline Harris
Find out about the stars that make up the Matariki constellation and their relationship to different aspects of te ao Māori.
Audio
You can listen to or download audio of this article below.
Digital copies
You can download a copy of this article. Go to the "About this resource" section at the top of the page.
See Materials that come with this resource and choose:
- The-Stars-of-Matariki-text (.pdf)
Order copies
Copies of Junior Journals are distributed free to primary schools that use the New Zealand Curriculum.
Schools can re-order print copies of Junior Journal issues at:
More from this issue of the Junior Journal
Heading
Junior Journal 67 Level 2 2024
Inside this Junior Journal there are four articles (Dark Skies; The Stars of Matariki; The Matariki Logo; Watching the Moon), one story (Titiro 'Ētū - Star Peeker), and one play (Star Search).
1 of 6Dark Skies
Tutepourangi Manihera-Thomson talks about his job as a guide at the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, and explains the concept of “dark skies” and their importance, particularly in mātauranga Māori.
2 of 6The Matariki Logo
In 2022, a Matariki logo, or tohu, was created to encourage people to think about what Matariki means to them and to Aotearoa New Zealand.
3 of 6Watching the Moon
In Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world, the moon is often used to signal the start of a celebration, for example, Diwali – the Festival of Lights, Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, and Zhong Qui Jie – the Moon Festival.
4 of 6Titiro ‘Ētū – Star Peeker
Harry’s grandfather explains the significance of a family taonga, a titiro ‘ētū, associated with navigating by the stars, and Harry learns how it links to his Cook Islands cultural heritage.
5 of 6Star Search
In this humorous play, a group of astronauts are sent to find a star that has disappeared from its constellation.
6 of 6
