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Matariki Knowledge Quiz

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Matariki Knowledge Quiz

Matariki star cluster illustration

📋 Instructions

Read each question carefully and select the best answer by filling in the circle next to your choice. This quiz covers Matariki traditions, cultural significance, and the nine stars of the cluster.

⭐ Part 1: Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Matariki?

A) A traditional Māori festival

B) A cluster of stars visible in winter

C) The Māori New Year celebration

D) All of the above

2. How many stars are traditionally recognised in the Matariki cluster?

A) Seven stars

B) Nine stars

C) Twelve stars

D) Five stars

3. Which star is known as the mother star of Matariki?

A) Pohutukawa

B) Matariki

C) Waitī

D) Hiwa-i-te-rangi

4. When is Matariki typically celebrated in New Zealand?

A) December - January

B) June - July

C) March - April

D) September - October

5. What does the star Waitī represent?

A) Fresh water and creatures living in rivers and lakes

B) Salt water and seafood

C) Dreams and aspirations

D) Food from the sky (birds)

6. Which activities are commonly associated with Matariki celebrations?

A) Sharing kai (food) with whānau

B) Reflecting on the past year

C) Making plans for the future

D) All of the above

7. What does Hiwa-i-te-rangi represent?

A) Winds and weather

B) Dreams, hopes, and aspirations

C) Those who have passed away

D) Food from cultivated land

8. In what season is Matariki visible in the pre-dawn sky in New Zealand?

A) Summer

B) Autumn

C) Winter

D) Spring

9. What is the significance of kite flying during Matariki?

A) To carry messages to ancestors

B) To predict the weather

C) To celebrate the harvest

D) To mark territorial boundaries

10. Which star is associated with food that grows in the ground?

A) Waitā

B) Tupuānuku

C) Tupuārangi

D) Ururangi

📝 Answer Key

1. D) All of the above

2. B) Nine stars

3. B) Matariki

4. B) June - July

5. A) Fresh water and creatures living in rivers and lakes

6. D) All of the above

7. B) Dreams, hopes, and aspirations

8. C) Winter

9. A) To carry messages to ancestors

10. B) Tupuānuku

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