Matariki

Matariki is a sign of the Maori New Year. It is a time of Renewal and Celebrations in New Zealand. It begins with the rising of the Matariki Star Cluster (the Pleiades or Seven Sisters).The name of the 7 Stars are Waiti, Waita, Waipunarangi, Ururangi, Matariki, Tupu-a-rangi and Tupu-a-nuku. Matariki begins to rise in the last few days of May, and the symbolises the coming of the Maori New Year. Some iwi, or tribes, start Celebrations when Matariki is first seen, however it is the first new moon after Matariki that officially signals the Maori New Year.