Matariki 2022

This year’s Matariki is a special one, with the very first public holiday to celebrate Matariki falling on 24 June 2022.

Margie Jordan

— May 26, 2022

What is Matariki?

Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster also known as the Pleiades. While it comprises over 300 stars, only seven are typically seen. At the end of May this year, we can observe Matariki rising in the north-eastern horizon just before dawn.

Matariki is a time for remembering those who have passed on and is a way of celebrating new life.

Matariki was a season for manaakitanga (hospitality) that brought communities together. Visitors were showered with gifts of specially preserved food and other delicacies.

Throughout Matariki, Māori learnt from each other, which ensured that traditions like arts, weaving, waiata, wānanga (conference) and whakapapa (genealogy) were passed from one generation to the next.

At Bethlehem School students will learn some of these traditions. Tamariki will learn how to prepare kai for a hangi and learn traditional arts that Māori continue to use to this day.

We will end the week with a hāngi.

Celebrate Matariki at Bethlehem School

When: June 20 - June 23

June 24: Public Holiday