Maramataka — A calendar led by the Moon
Like many cultures worldwide, Māori follow a lunar calendar—the Maramataka. However, unlike conventional lunar calendars, each day in the Maramataka comes with specific guidance and meaning. Each lunar phase has a name, and Matariki—Te Tau Hou (the New Year) is determined by the Moon’s cycle rather than the fixed months of the Gregorian Calendar, meaning its date changes every year.
The commonly accepted understanding in New Zealand as of 2020 was that the Māori New Year begins with the heliacal rising of Matariki following the New Moon (Whiro). However, other interpretations exist. Some traditions observe Matariki’s heliacal rising during the Last Quarter (Tangaroa) phase of the Moon. This approach has been supported by Māori lunar calendar expert Wiremu Tāwhai and Tūhoe astronomer Rāwiri Te Kōkau, who identified the Tangaroa lunar phases of the Pipiri lunar month as the correct time to view Matariki (Mataamua R., Matariki, the Star of the Year, 2017).
Not all iwi (tribes) in Aotearoa use Matariki (the Pleiades) as their New Year marker. In some regions, where Matariki is difficult to observe—such as on the West Coast, where mountains obstruct the view—tribes instead use Puanga (Rigel), the bright blue giant in Orion. In other areas, the setting of Rehua (Antares) is used to mark seasonal transitions (MBIE – Matariki public holiday).
By 2020, different iwi (tribes) across Aotearoa New Zealand determined the timing of Matariki, the Māori New Year, according to their own traditions, using various lunar phases. Recognizing the need for a unified national observance, the New Zealand Government established the Matariki Advisory Group in 2021. This group was tasked with:
• Selecting a nationwide date for the Matariki public holiday.
• Creating a 30-year calendar to ensure consistency in future celebrations.
• Advising on how best to honour Matariki’s significance in a way that reflects Māori traditions and values (Matariki Advisory Group).
The Matariki Advisory Group, chaired by Professor Dr Rangiānehu Mātāmua, included esteemed experts Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, Victoria Campbell, Dr Pauline Harris, Dr Ruakere Hond, Rereata Makiha, and Jack Thatcher. Together, they set the official Matariki dates for 2022–2052 and outlined the core values for Matariki celebrations (Matariki Dates 2022 – 2052, Values for Matariki Celebrations).
Matariki’s institutionalization in 2022, two decades after the Māori Language Commission first promoted its revival (Māori Language Commission initiative), demonstrated how government support can elevate indigenous knowledge and traditions to national significance. After much debate, the Committee adopted the Last Quarter Moon as the official lunar phase to signal Matariki’s observance.
There will be no fireworks.
Another important consideration is how Matariki should be celebrated in a way that aligns with its values. The principles outlined in the Matariki Advisory Group’s recommendations provide guidance on appropriate observances.
For example, if we ask, “Are fireworks an appropriate way to celebrate Matariki?”—we can evaluate the answer through Matariki’s core values. One of these values, Mana Taiao (environmental awareness), emphasizes respect and care for the natural world. Given the environmental impact of fireworks, including air and noise pollution, they do not align with this principle, suggesting that more sustainable and culturally meaningful ways of celebration should be encouraged.
Although we acknowledge that New Zealanders have enjoyed fireworks for many years, the environmental impact of fireworks has not been properly assessed, beyond that of fire risk and damage. In addition, fireworks cause light pollution, noise pollution and waste (including plastic waste) that often finds its way onto our beaches and into the ocean. Fireworks may also be at odds with the key principle of Remembrance, that is, honouring those that have passed since the last rising of Matariki. Therefore, the values associated with Matariki would suggest that fireworks do not align with the spirit of this celebration. (Values for Matariki Celebrations, Matariki Advisory Committee. 2021)
