Matariki's Message for the Pacific: 'We Need Each Other More Than We Understand'

As New Zealanders observe Matariki, a significant Māori astronomer is calling for greater unity across the Pacific region. Professor Rangi Mātāmua (Tūhoe) believes the stars are sending a powerful message during these challenging global times: "Like the ocean connects us, the sky connects us, and we are connected to each other. And these are unusual, difficult times for many of us, we need each other more than we probably understand. We are all related, we come from the same place, and we actually come from the stars."

Matariki, which refers to the Pleiades star cluster, marks the beginning of the Māori new year for many indigenous communities in New Zealand. This year's public holiday, established five years ago, carries the theme 'Matariki Herenga Waka - Matariki For Everyone.' The celebration thoughtfully encompasses three core elements: remembering those who have passed, celebrating the present, and looking forward to the future.

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Like the ocean connects us, the sky connects us, and we are connected to each other. And these are unusual, difficult times for many of us, we need each other more than we probably understand. We are all related, we come from the same place, and we actually come from the stars.

Professor Mātāmua emphasizes that Matariki's significance extends far beyond New Zealand's borders, connecting people throughout Polynesia long before modern political boundaries were drawn. He notes that the star cluster is a constant in the Pacific, representing some of the oldest and most well-documented celestial observations in human history. While New Zealand's Matariki holiday has gained international recognition, Mātāmua is keen to stress that the tradition belongs to the entire region, not just one nation.

He credits cultural leaders in Hawaii for inspiring many of New Zealand's current Matariki traditions, stating, "But it'd be wrong to think that it belongs to Aotearoa. In fact, much of the ceremony that we enact today, we got the courage to do that by going and observing our relations in Hawaii, and when they celebrate Makahiki." Rather than advocating for a uniform approach, Mātāmua encourages Pacific nations to rediscover and celebrate their own unique Matariki stories and traditions. He views the diversity within Pacific cultures not as a weakness, but as a strength that adds richness and distinctiveness to shared principles of gathering, feasting, and celebrating the new year.

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But it'd be wrong to think that it belongs to Aotearoa. In fact, much of the ceremony that we enact today, we got the courage to do that by going and observing our relations in Hawaii, and when they celebrate Makahiki.