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Matariki Star Stories

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Matariki Star Stories

Read the passage, then complete the activities. Use te reo Māori where you can. Star meanings and practices can vary between iwi; the passage describes common associations, not a single account for everyone.

He kōrero: Matariki me ōna whetū

Ka kitea anō a Matariki i te takurua, i mua i te whitinga o te rā. He ingoa tēnei mō te kāhui whetū e mōhiotia ana i te reo Pākehā ko te Pleiades. Ki ētahi iwi, ko te putanga mai o Matariki he tohu mō te tau hou Māori. He wā hoki hei maumahara ki te hunga kua whetūrangitia, hei whakanui i te hunga ora, ā, hei whakaaro ki ngā wawata mō te tau kei te haere mai. He kōrero, he tikanga anō tō ia whetū. E hono ana a Tupu-ā-nuku ki ngā kai e tupu ana ki roto i te whenua, pērā i te kūmara. E hono ana a Tupu-ā-rangi ki ngā kai o runga, pērā i ngā hua rākau me ngā manu. E tohu ana a Waitī i ngā wai māori me ngā koiora o reira; e tohu ana a Waitā i te moana me ōna koiora. E hono ana a Waipuna-ā-rangi ki te ua, ā, e hono ana a Ururangi ki ngā hau. Ko Hiwa-i-te-rangi te whetū e tukuna atu ai ngā wawata. Ka āwhina ngā whetū me ngā tohu o te taiao i te tangata ki te aro ki ngā kaupeka me ngā kai e wātea ana. Heoi, kāore i ōrite ngā ingoa, ngā kōrero, ngā rā whakanui rānei ki ngā iwi katoa. Mā te whakarongo ki ngā kaumātua me ngā hapori e mōhio ai tātou ki ngā tikanga o tō rātou rohe.

1.According to the passage, when does Matariki become visible again, and what seasonal time of year is this?

2.Which statement best captures the passage’s description of Matariki? Choose one.

It is a single star used only to predict the weather.
It is a star cluster connected with seasonal knowledge, remembrance and hopes for the future.
It is a constellation whose meanings are exactly the same for every iwi.
It marks the start of summer and the fishing season.

3.Match each star with the association given in the passage.

Tupu-ā-nuku
Waitī
Ururangi
Hiwa-i-te-rangi

The winds
Food that grows in the ground
Fresh water and the life within it
Hopes and aspirations

4.In the passage, what does “te hunga kua whetūrangitia” refer to?

People who have passed away
People who are learning to read the stars
People who gather food in winter
People who are making plans for the new year

5.Name one kind of kai associated with Tupu-ā-rangi in the passage.

6.The passage says that every iwi has the same Matariki names, stories and celebration dates. Write true or false, then correct the statement.

TrueFalse

7.Complete the sentence with the name of a star: “Ko te whetū e hono ana ki ngā wai māori.”

8.How might observing Matariki and other signs in nature help people plan for the year? Give one idea supported by the passage.

9.Translate “He wā hei maumahara ki te hunga kua whetūrangitia” into English.

10.A friend says, “Matariki is celebrated in exactly the same way everywhere in Aotearoa.” Write a respectful response using one detail from the passage.