Hauraki Coromandel Matariki Celebrations

Hauraki Coromandel Matariki Celebrations

By Carl Muir

“Out of the darkness, only light can come” - John Butler

June 21 marks our shortest day. The day of least sunlight. 

Let’s face it, June hasn’t been overly kind to us so far weather wise. There hasn’t been too much sunshine beating down, and it’s been wet, cold and windy! June does however mark the journey back towards more light and those balmy Coromandel summer days once again. 

And as such, it marks new beginnings and the start of a new cycle.

I’m lucky to live on a hill overlooking Tairua Beach. Right now the sun is rising over the north end of the beach, about 7.15am traversing low to the north through the day and setting over the hills on Paul Road about 4.45pm.  Come the longest day, from where I look in the morning, the sun will rise straight over the tallest peak of Paku about 6am traverse straight overhead, and set over the Pinnacles about 9pm in the evening. I very much look forward to those days at this time of year!

Taking the time out to observe nature, our skies and celestial objects is an important part, I think, of our human existence. Something that gets a little lost in our technological age.

Matariki literally translates in Maori to tiny eyes or the eyes of God. 

It is the name given to the cluster of stars (also known as Pleiades in Greek and Subaru in Japanese) that appear on the horizon in the dawn sky around the shortest day. It signifies in the Maori world, the start of a new year. I would challenge all Kiwis to look at it as their New Year celebration. In 2022, it will be officially marked with a public holiday. You beauty!

Matariki is celebrated in various ways up and down Aotearoa. Matariki has always been an important time for Maori, and it was used as a time not only to reflect, especially on those who had passed, but also to plan ahead for the year, especially planting and harvesting.

Image source: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2322-the-matariki-star-cluster

For many years I have got my kids out of bed in those cold clear June mornings to observe Matariki. To find the Matariki cluster, locate Tautoro (Orion or the Pot) and track north along the skyline until you find a group of small tightly bunched twinkling stars. (As an aside, did you know the light you are seeing from these stars is from 444 years ago, thats right, the constellation is 444 light years away.)

A tradition among some Maori is to light a fire on the shortest day before dawn, and cook kumara in the embers, eating this as breakfast as the sun rises. This is something I plan to do on a clear morning with my whanau some time this June. Others will celebrate with a traditional hangi or some kaimoana cooked on an open fire.

Here on the Coromandel there are many Matariki celebrations taking place, and one well worth checking out is the Matariki Exhibition at Bounty Store.

Bounty Store, together with St Francis Catholic School in Thames are holding a joint fundraising Matariki Exhibition. Teaming up with thirty mostly local artists, each artist has created a unique work celebrating Matariki and whats unique about living in Aotearoa.  The exhibition opens 25 June with an official opening at Bounty in Grahamstown, Pollen St, Thames at 5-7pm, and then runs for three weeks until Saturday 7 July.

For more information follow www.facebook.com/bountystore 

What are you planning on doing for Matariki this year? Do you have your own way of celebrating? Know of a local celebration? Drop your plans in the comments section below: