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Celebrate Matariki - the Maori New Year - in June
Of course, New Zealanders celebrate their New Year on New Year's Eve, the night from 31 December to 1 January.But there is another date to remember: the Maori New Year, called Matariki. This is in the middle of the year and is celebrated with festivals. Northland with its high percentage of Maori population is a perfect place to get an idea about it. Traditionally, Matariki is a time when many Maori communities celebrate their successes and plan for the period ahead. The timing of the New Year relates to the appearance of the star constellation Pleiades or Matariki and the subsequent sighting of the next new moon. The timing of Matariki fell at the end of a harvest and food stores were full. Meat, fruits, herbs and vegetables had been gathered and preserved and the migration of certain fish ensured a great period of feasts. Matariki was seen as a time to share with each other, for family...
