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Te kāhui whetū o Matariki and Ngā mata o te Ariki are some of the common names used for Matariki (Pleiades) in Aotearoa.

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​In the Kahungunu\Hawke's Bay area each year we see Matariki set around the second week in April to the North West, it is not seen again for approximately two whole months as it is too close to the sun. Matariki can be seen rising for the first time in mid June to the North East every year. Other rohe around Aotearoa might differ by a week or so depending on the landscape of the horizon or the latitude.

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The time of its rising co-insides with te Takanga o te Rā o Takurua (Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere), and Matariki rises on almost the same spot on the horizon and approx two hours before Tama nui te rā (the sun). This is one of the main reasons why Matariki is seen as such an important star cluster to Māori and other cultures around the world.

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Matariki can mean many things to many people, for us we believe that Matariki is a sign of cycles, some ending and some beginning. Its a chance to reflect on the previous year (cycle of Tama nui te Rā), remember te hunga mate (those who have passed away), to assess the previous year's harvests and hopefully celebrate it with hākari. It's also a chance to look to the next year, to assess the tohu from the various whetū within Matariki.

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