Rua tekau mā tahi - Rāhoroi 21 Hakihea - Matariki

Day 21 Saturday 21st December - Matariki

He kaupapa mō te rā

Matariki

Matariki is the star cluster known in many other parts of the world as Pleiades. The star cluster has nine stars. They are called Ururangi, Waipuna-ā-rangi, Waitā, Waitī, Matariki, Tupu-ā-rangi and Tupu-ā-nuku, Hiwa-i-te-rangi, and Pōhutukawa. Matariki rises in mid winter in New Zealand and can be seen in the night sky for 11 months of the year.

Matariki marks the new year and here in Aotearoa we like to remember the past, participate wholly in the present, and plan well for the future. It is the time that we till the soil, prepare our ‘mara’ kai (food garden) and the practice of growing kai for oneself. It can also refer to communal gardens, important for Māori culture and well-being. It promotes the collective activities for the benefit of marae and the community. Matariki cycles also enhance the well-being of the local ecosystems whilst reconnecting to the whenua/whānau especially at harvest time when the kai is shared.

He Karaipiture (Bible Reading)

Matiu/Matthew 2:1-6

Nā, i te mea kua whānau nei a Īhu ki Pēterehema o Hūria, i ngā rā o Kīngi Herora, nā, ka haere mai ētahi Maki i te rāwhiti ki Hiruhārama, ka mea, “Kei hea tēnei kua whānau nei hei kīngi mō ngā Hūrai? I kite hoki mātou i tōna whetū i te rāwhiti, ā, ka tae mai nei ki te koropiko ki a ia.”

Ā, nō te rongonga o Kīngi Herora, ka ohorere rātou ko Hiruhārama katoa. Nā, whakaminea katoatia ana e ia ngā tohunga nui me ngā karaipi o te iwi, ā, ka ui ki a rātou ki te wāhi e whānau ai a te Karaiti.

Ka mea rātou ki a ia, “Ki Pēterehema o Hūria; ko tā te poropiti hoki tēnei i tuhituhi ai:

‘Ā, ko koe, e Pēterehema, whenua o Hūrā,

ehara rawa i te iti rawa i roto i ngā kāwana o Hūrā;

e puta mai hoki i a koe he kāwana,

hei hēpara mō tāku iwi, mō Īharaira.’ ”

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king. Soon afterward, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard about this, he was very upset, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?”

“In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they answered. “For this is what the prophet wrote:

‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah;

for from you will come a leader

who will guide my people Israel.’”

Whakarongo/Titiro Mai (Listen/Watch)

Ngā mea waihanga (Create)

Wooden chopsticks and leaves with a dazzling touch of paint has given rise to the whetū (star) that adorned the Christ-mas tree in 2022.

He Whakaaroaro (Reflect)

Matariki is our very recently established public holiday. It’s a moveable holiday, celebrated in our winter in Aotearoa New Zealand, when the Matariki star cluster rises in June or July each year. The ancient knowledge of studying the stars has been carefully passed down through generations and is through the sharing of this mātauranga (knowledge) that we celebrate Matariki. Matariki is still visible in the night sky over these summer months and the same star cluster can be seen in other parts of the world where it is now winter. New Zealanders are very used to borrowing traditions and customs from around the globe for our Christ-mas celebrations. We incorporate a confusing mix of wintery styled decorations and food in the way we celebrate. In some parts of the world, tonight will be the longest night but here in Aotearoa New Zealand it is a light-filled longest day. Throughout this year’s Counting Down to Christ-mas we’ve presented a range of decorative ideas to bring a focus that is nature-based and belongs to our way to celebrate this summery festival.

Whakahokia mai (Respond)

Find out from your local observatory or planetarium where to find the Matariki (Pleiades) star cluster in the night sky and try to view it from your place in the world.

Karakia (Pray)

“You said, ‘Let there be light’; there was light. Your light shines on in our darkness.
For you the earth has brought forth life in all its forms. You have created us to hear your Word, to do your will and to be fulfilled in your love. It is right to thank you.

You send your Holy Spirit to strengthen and to guide, to warn and to revive your Church. Therefore, with all your witnesses who surround us on every side, countless as heaven’s stars, we praise you for our creation and our calling, with loving and joyful hearts.

Ka whakanuia te tamaiti nei, ka tapaia ko te Tama a te Runga Rawa; hei kīngi hoki ia mō te hapū o Hākopa ake ake, e kore anō e mutu tōna rangatiratanga. Ruka 1:32-33.

This child will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:32-33.

NZPB - Te Hāhi Mihinare, p486 & 557

Bonus Content

An extra Matariki video for those who are enjoying singing along today.