Matariki

General websites

Although the star cluster is recognised and celebrated in other cultures, the stories and traditions about Matariki are unique to New Zealand. This means the best place to look for information on this topic is on New Zealand websites.

Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Te Ara is a great starting point for all questions about New Zealand Aotearoa.

• Enter the keyword 'Matariki' in the search box.
• Look for the story called Matariki: Māori New Year.
• This is the Story summary, so remember to try other links under Contents to find more information.
• If you look under All images and media you will find pictures and videos about Matariki too.

Tips: We can tell from its website address that this site is a government site because it has .govt in the address, so we can be confident the information is well-researched and reliable.

Tips: Search words, or keywords, are the most important words in our question. Usually it’s better to leave out small words like ‘the’, ‘a’ and ‘of’ and just choose the main ones, e.g [matariki]. We can always change our keywords or add more if we need to.

Te Papa Tongarewa - Museum of New Zealand

New Zealand’s national museum also has lots of good information on Matariki.

• Enter 'Matariki' into the search box at the top of the page.
• You will find here a link called Matariki: The Māori New Year.
• The link What is Matariki? has a good explanation about the difference between Matariki and Puanga.
• The link The Maramataka is about the Māori lunar calendar.

Tips: Many web pages have links to further information or to other recommended sites. Following these links is a great way to find out more.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori - Māori Language Commission

This is another government website that is all about helping more people use te reo Māori - the Māori language.

• Search for 'Matariki' to find this great booklet with lots of information: Matariki booklet.
• The booklet has been written in English and te reo Māori.

Tips: This website is bilingual which means it can be read in te reo Māori and English. The options are at the top of the page.

Christchurch City Libraries

Christchurch City Libraries is a group of public libraries belonging to Christchurch City Council. Its website has lots of pages of information on popular New Zealand topics such as Matariki.

• Select Website in the box called Search the and then enter 'Matariki' into the search box.
• Find the link called Matariki for kids to read about traditions, stories, activities and links to other Matariki websites.

Tips: Many web pages have links to further information or to other recommended sites. Following these links is a great way to find out more. This searching method is called “pearl growing” because you are picking up pieces of sand to make a beautiful pearl!

Matariki events - Eventfinda

Many Matariki celebrations take place at home when friends and family gather to share kai (food). For more public events, check out these Matariki events listed on the Eventfinda website.

Tips: Websites that have .com or .co in the address can have good information, but you need to assess how reliable it is. Check the About us link on the website, if you can find one. That can tell you what the company’s mission and values are.

Books

Your local or school library may also have some books about Matariki. Check out these titles:

• Matariki: the Maori New Year by Libby Hakaraia.
• Seven kites of Matariki by Calico McClintock.
• Matariki by Philippa Werry.
• The promise of Puanga : helper to the Whānau Matariki by Kirsty Wadsworth.

SCIS no: 1832262