Matariki is a cluster of stars known as Pleiades. When the stars rise, it in the mid winter and it is the start of Matariki. This is the Maori new year. Matariki means Eye’s of God or little eyes.
Ranginui the Sky Father and Papatuanuku the Earth Mother were separated from their children. The God of the Wind (Tawhirimatea) was so mad that he threw his eyes into the heavens.
Matariki was a happy time. Maori planted crops such as kumara. Seafood and birds were also gathered. It was also time to sing, dance and feast. In the 1940’s Matariki celebrations stopped. In the early 2000’s Matariki celebrations were revived. One of the common symbols of Matariki was the kite flying. The kites were flown because it was believed that the kites would fly close to the stars.
a log time ago matariki was the most amazing story