Matariki T-Shirts For Sale

An open cluster of many stars in Te Kāhui o Matariki, with at least nine stars visible to the naked eye. 

The brightest star in the centre of the cluster, also known as Matariki, married Rehua and is the mother of the other eight stars of the Pleiades known to Māori. The other eight stars are: Tupuārangi, Waipunarangi, Waitī, Ururangi, Tupuānuku, Waitā, Pōhutukawa and Hiwa-i-te-rangi.

The first appearance before sunrise of Matariki in the north-eastern sky, in the Tangaroa phase of the lunar month, indicates the beginning of the Māori year and is the cause for celebrations. 

Matariki disappears at the end of the Māori year and traditionally this was also a reason for celebration with some iwi. During this time when Matariki was absent from the sky, she was said to visit four places, each for seven nights, Maukahau, Tārarau-ātea, Papa-whakatangitangi and Tītore-māhu-tū. 

Matariki is a truncated version of the name Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea (the eyes of the atua Tāwhirimātea). Matariki is associated with good health and wellbeing.