Hēmi Houkāmau.

Ngāti Porou/Te whānau o Tūwhakairiora

Our Mum was an advocate for all things Māori, but in the decade 1955–1965 Māori found it challenging coming from a rural community to the ‘Big Smoke.’ One could assume my parents were well versed in community living, but coming from Hicks Bay on the East Coast to the capital city all in one day was mind boggling. Helping neighbours planting and harvesting crops, dropping off fish to kaumātua, and sending the young fulla to chop wood for them was an expectation if you were able bodied. Birthdays, weddings, unveilings, and tangihanga that could take up to a week – woe betide the whānau who were conspicuous by their absence. In a way, they lived Matariki all year long.

Things like planting and harvesting kai for the winter months, hangi and feasts together with neighbours who were more than likely whānau, remembering loved ones in waiata and whaikōrero was the norm. We never celebrated Matariki like we do today, perhaps because it was a way of life. The appearance of Matariki simply meant it was time to harvest – everyone chipped in.

When we moved to our new (old) house in Tawa, our dad couldn’t believe his luck. He turned the entire back yard into a garden. After the first harvest, he gave sacks and sacks of potatoes away to friends, neighbours, and whānau. I was too young to realise why there were so many people at home in the middle of winter having a party on the back lawn. One of our Pākehā neighbours quizzed dad about how he managed to grow more, bigger vegetables than him. When dad said he planted and harvested by the moon and the stars, the guy basically scoffed at the idea. No more potatoes for him.

Nowadays of course, Matariki coincides with the southern solstice, marking the shortest day of the year. Thanks to Professor Rangi Mātāmua, academics, scientists, and astronomers, we are now able to appreciate how Māori adapted to their natural world, celebrated it, and protected it. For those who are otherwise engaged in other activities around the middle of June, think about what those in the northern hemisphere do on their shortest day of the year. Many countries celebrate the appearance of the star cluster we named Matariki. Pleiades or the seven sisters in English, Subaru in Japan, Krittika in India, Mao in China, and M45 in astronomical circles.

Lastly, Matariki is not only a time to reflect on the past, but just as importantly to plan for the future. Whatever your persuasion, let this time of the year be a joyful one with whānau, sharing stories of loved ones, sharing of food, planning for tomorrow, and giving gifts.

Toitū Matariki