How to celebrate Matariki at homeMe pēhea te whakanui i a Matariki i te kāinga
There are many ways you can celebrate Matariki. Here are a few suggestions for what you can do at home.
Matariki is a time where people, whānau, and communities gather together to remember the year that has passed, to celebrate the present, and to plan for the next year. It is a time to remember our loved ones who are no longer with us, to feast and celebrate with our relatives and friends, and to look towards the future and the hope of a season full of bounty.
Remember loved ones who have passed away
Take time with your whānau to remember your loved ones who have passed away. Visit their urupā or resting site, mow the lawns, or tidy up any imperfections on their gravestones. You may even consider attending a hautapu ceremony or conducting one of your own at home where you and your whānau can call out the names of loved ones who have left us in the past year.
How to host your own hautapu at home
Enjoy a mid-winter feast with friends and whānau
Matariki is a time to share kai that has been harvested and stored throughout the year. It’s too cold for planting or for other major work to take place, so people gather together, relax, eat, and enjoy good company.
Mānawatia a Matariki, 2022. Photo by Erica Sinclair. Te Papa (211125)
Write down your hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the year ahead
It is to Hiwa that Māori would send their dreams and desires for the year in the hope that they would be realised. Take a moment to think about your hopes, dreams, and aspirations, not only for yourself but for your whānau, hapori and taiao. We encourage you to have conversations with your friends, family, or others in finding ways to achieve a collective goal.
Go out and see Matariki!
Go outside before the rising of the sun to try and find Matariki.
Watch: How to find the Matariki star cluster
Hoki ki te kāinga
Matariki is a good time to return to the places you call home, and to reaffirm bonds you have with whānau, friends and communities.
Plan to grow a garden for your whānau
Today it is so easy for us to go to the supermarket and purchase what we need. Plan to grow a garden for your whānau so you can produce your own vegetables, build food security and consider food sovereignty.
Whāngai i te hautapu
Māori give thanks to Matariki by offering up kai to the stars connecting us to our environment.
How to host your own hautapu at home
Mana Taiao (environmental awareness)
Matariki reminds us of our connection to the environment and our responsibilities to look after it. It can be as simple as organising a beach clean, cleaning your local waterway or planting a tree to give back to our environment. Alternatively, you may want to explore options like becoming a zero-waste household, recycling more often, saving power by turning electrical equipment off when not in use, or cycling to work rather than driving to reduce your carbon footprint.
Entertainment
Matariki is a time of entertainment, celebration and enjoyment. It is a time to make music, play games and share stories. Spend time enjoying each other's company and relaxing together.
