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Matariki Hautapu Learning Guide

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Matariki Hautapu Learning Guide

Read the learning text, then complete the activities. Use evidence from the text and your own reasoning. Māori knowledge and practice vary between iwi and rohe; avoid assuming there is only one way to observe Matariki or conduct a hautapu.

Reading: Preparing for a hautapu

Matariki is the Māori name commonly used for the Pleiades star cluster. Its rising before dawn in midwinter marks the beginning of the Māori New Year for many iwi. The timing and ways of observing Matariki differ across iwi and rohe (region or area). Some communities look to other signs in the sky or landscape, and not all communities mark the new year in the same way. Matariki is often understood as a time to remember those who have died, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. The stars are associated with different areas of the natural world. For example, Matariki is connected with wellbeing and the gathering of people; Waitī with fresh water; Waitā with the sea; and Tupuānuku with food grown in the ground. These associations can help people reflect on their relationships with the environment. In te reo Māori, a star is called a whetū. A hautapu is one ceremonial practice associated with Matariki. In some traditions, food is cooked in an umu, an earth oven. As the food cooks, its steam rises as an offering to the stars. The gathered community may acknowledge those who have passed, give thanks, and consider hopes for the year ahead. Practices, words, and the order of events vary, so a community follows the guidance of its kaumātua (respected elders) and local tikanga. A hautapu is not simply a performance: it carries meaning through relationships, remembrance, and care for the natural world.

A. Understand and interpret

Use the reading to answer each question. Where asked, explain your reasoning.

1.Which statement best summarises the reading’s explanation of Matariki?

It is a single, identical ceremony practised by every iwi.
It is a time of seasonal significance that can bring together remembrance, celebration, and planning, with practices varying by community.
It is only a way to predict the weather.
It is a celebration focused entirely on food.

2.Match each te reo Māori term with the meaning given in the reading.

whetū
umu
rohe
kaumātua

region or area
star
earth oven
respected elders

3.According to the reading, what happens to the food in some hautapu traditions, and what meaning is attached to this?

4.The reading says that all iwi observe Matariki at exactly the same time and in exactly the same way. State whether this is true or false, then correct the statement.

TrueFalse

5.Complete the three-part reflection associated with Matariki in the reading: remember those who have died, celebrate the , and plan for the .

6.Name one star association from the reading and explain how it could prompt a community to think about caring for the environment.

B. Apply and reflect

Use ideas from the reading while recognising the importance of local knowledge and tikanga.

7.A friend is invited to attend a local Matariki gathering and asks how to behave respectfully. Give two sensible suggestions based on the reading, including one that recognises local authority or tikanga.

8.Explain how a hautapu can connect people with both their ancestors and the natural world. Support your answer with two details from the reading.

9.Write a short reflection for a Matariki gathering that looks back, recognises the present, and looks ahead. You may write in English, te reo Māori, or both. Do not present your words as a traditional karakia; make clear they are your own reflection.