29 June 2021
Rotorua commemorates and celebrates Matariki
With the rising of Matariki (Pleiades star cluster) nearly upon us, Rotorua has many events to educate, commemorate and celebrate the beginning of the Māori New Year.
Check out Matariki - Te Tau Hou Māori, an informative exhibition about Matariki. Designed and curated by the team at Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa, the exhibition will be on display at Rotorua Library, Te Aka Mauri, until Saturday 10 July 2021.
The exhibition is comprises three parts. Wā kua matatia - The Past: Matariki rises in winter and is a time for us to mourn our dead, particularly those that have passed in the year just gone. Wā e kitea ana – The Present: With the year’s harvest complete, Matariki was a time to relax and come together to celebrate with the sharing of kai. Wā kāre anō kia kaikanohi atu e – The Future: Predicting the forthcoming year was carried out during Pīpiri, at the first appearance of Matariki. The stars of the Matariki cluster each have their own purpose connected to Te Ao Māori (the Māori world).
Wā kua matatia - The Past will also be commemorated in the release of the Rotorua Matariki Memorial Tribute Video 2021. The local community have sent in images of their loved ones who have passed away since the rising of Matariki in July 2020 to its setting in June 2021. The images, combined to create a special memorial slideshow, will be posted on the Rotorua Nui Facebook page at dawn on Friday 2 July, so we can all remember our tangata together.
Over the nine days of Matariki (2 July – 10 July 2021, 12.15pm), Rotorua Library, Te Aka Mauri, will host a series of short lunchtime talks entitled Matariki Tauira - Students of Matariki. Each day will focus on a particular whetu (star) in the Matariki whānau, presented by representatives from across Rotorua Library and Rotorua Lakes Council.
Matariki is the matriarch of the star cluster named after her. She signifies reflection, hope, health, wellbeing and our connection to the environment. Matariki Māreikura – Honouring the Divine Female Essence is a series of free talks being held at Rotorua Lakes Council in the Council Chamber.