Our Tautoru students have been recapping our knowledge of Matariki and Puanga. Here is some art we created. Each segment uses pictures and patterns that represent the different stars.
Waitī is associated with all freshwater and their food sources that are sustained by those waters.
Waitā is associated with the ocean and all life.
Tupuānuku is associated with foods grown in the ground such as kūmara.
If Tupuārangi is hard to see at Matariki - kai from the sky will be scarce. If she is bright – there will be plenty of food from the sky.
Waipunarangi is associated with the various forms of rain throughout the year as it falls from the sky, nourishing all living things.
Ururangi connects us to the different winds .
Hiwa-i-te-Rangi is the youngest star in the Matariki cluster and is connected to our dreams and aspirations.
Matariki signifies reflection, hope, the gathering of people, and our connection to the environment. Matariki is connected to our health and well-being.
Pōhutukawa connects us to our loved ones that have passed .
The celebration of Matariki, the Māori New Year is accompanied by all sorts of traditions, some traditional and some contemporary. Iwi in Te Whanganui a Tara celebrate not just the rising of Matariki, but also Puanga.
Puanga is a single whetū and is not part of the Matariki cluster but appears in the evening sky shortly before Matariki rises each year. Puanga rises higher in the sky so it’s recognised by iwi and hapū that can’t see Matariki from their location. The brightness and clarity of the stars was a predictor of how abundant the harvest would be in the coming year.
Different locations and landscapes mean that in some areas only Puanga can be seen. Te Whanganui a Tara and our location mean we are surrounded by hills and mountains, making it a great place to view the stars. The special site where we stand was referred to as Whetūkairangi - Stargazers.
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