Matariki Explained: The History and Significance of NZ's Newest Public Holiday

In June 2022, New Zealand gained its first new public holiday in more than 40 years. Matariki — the Māori New Year — became an annual national holiday, and in doing so became the only public holiday in the world specifically tied to Māori culture and a uniquely New Zealand astronomical event.

But Matariki is much more than a recent addition to the calendar. For Māori, it has been observed for centuries. Understanding what Matariki actually is — and why it matters — makes it a more meaningful day for everyone in New Zealand.

What Is Matariki?

Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster known in Western astronomy as the Pleiades. It consists of hundreds of stars, but nine are particularly significant in Māori tradition. Each of the nine stars has a distinct name and domain — a domain over a particular aspect of the natural world or human experience.

The name "Matariki" itself comes from two possible origins. Many scholars trace it to "Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea" — the eyes of the atua (god) Tāwhirimātea, who governs wind and weather. Others link it to "Mata Ariki" meaning "eyes of the chief." Both interpretations connect the star cluster to power, guidance and the divine.

The Pleiades are visible from most parts of the world, and many cultures mark their appearance with celebrations. But New Zealand's approach — legislating a public holiday tied to the first rising of the cluster in the predawn sky — is unique.

The Nine Stars of Matariki

In te ao Māori (the Māori world view), the nine stars of Matariki each govern a different domain. Observing which stars are visible and how they appear at the rising is traditionally a way of reading signs about the coming year.

The appearance of these stars at dawn signals the beginning of the new year. It is a time for remembering those who have died since the last rising of Matariki, celebrating what the earth has given, and setting intentions for the year ahead.

Matariki Before the Public Holiday

The decline of traditional Māori practice under colonisation meant that Matariki was less widely observed for much of the 20th century. But it never disappeared. Knowledge of Matariki was maintained by whānau, kaumātua and hapū across New Zealand, and from the early 2000s there was a significant revival of public Matariki celebrations.

By the 2010s, Matariki events were being held in Wellington, Auckland, Rotorua and other centres, and there were growing calls for it to become a national public holiday. Māori leaders, iwi and eventually government ministers began to take the idea seriously.

How Matariki Became a Public Holiday

The Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Bill was introduced to Parliament in 2021 and passed in April 2021. The first official Matariki public holiday was observed on 24 June 2022.

Several things made the legislation notable. First, it required establishing which body would be responsible for setting the date each year — since the date is not fixed by the Gregorian calendar. Te Kāhui o Matariki, a government-appointed panel of experts in Māori astronomy and culture, was established for this purpose. They recommend the date annually, and it is legislated by Order in Council.

Second, the date follows Māori astronomical tradition: Matariki is observed on the Friday of the week containing the first new moon after the first visible rising of the Matariki star cluster in the predawn sky above the northeastern horizon. The Friday rule ensures the holiday creates a long weekend. The Friday in question is the one in the same week as the new moon — where "week" is defined as beginning on Monday.

How the Date Is Set Each Year

Because Matariki follows the Māori lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar, the public holiday falls on a different date every year — anywhere from mid-June to late July.

The variability of the date can create planning challenges for employers and employees. Unlike Christmas or ANZAC Day, you can't assume Matariki will be in the same week every year. The date for each year is typically announced by Te Kāhui o Matariki well in advance, and Employment New Zealand publishes confirmed dates as part of the official public holiday list.

How New Zealanders Celebrate Matariki

Matariki celebrations vary widely and reflect both traditional Māori practice and newer community traditions. Across New Zealand, events typically include:

• Dawn ceremonies: Marking the moment of the star cluster's rising, often at significant geographical sites.
• Star-gazing events: Guided by astronomers and cultural experts who can identify the nine stars and explain their significance.
• Kapa haka and cultural performances: Celebrating Māori art forms and storytelling.
• Wānanga: Gatherings focused on learning, reflection and the sharing of knowledge.
• Community feasts: Sharing food as a celebration of the earth's harvest, connecting to the domain of Tupuānuku and Tupuārangi.
• Lantern festivals: Particularly in Wellington, where the lantern festival has become one of the most visible Matariki events in the country.

Matariki is a time for everyone in New Zealand, not just Māori. Many non-Māori New Zealanders have embraced it as an opportunity to learn about indigenous astronomy and culture — something genuinely distinctive to Aotearoa that doesn't exist in the same form anywhere else on earth.

Matariki and Remembrance

One of the more profound aspects of Matariki that distinguishes it from other New Zealand public holidays is its relationship with death and remembrance. The star Pōhutukawa connects Matariki to those who have passed since the last rising of the cluster. In traditional practice, the names of those who had died in the intervening year were spoken aloud, lifting them to the heavens to become stars.

This tradition of remembrance has carried into contemporary Matariki celebrations, giving the day a reflective, quieter quality alongside its celebratory aspects. It is at once a time to look back and a time to look forward — to set intentions, make plans, and acknowledge aspirations through the star Hiwa-i-te-rangi.

Cultural information in this article has been summarised from publicly available sources including Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand and Te Kāhui o Matariki. For in-depth cultural guidance, we recommend consulting iwi resources and recognised Māori authorities. This article does not constitute cultural advice.