What are the names & attributes of the stars?
Matariki boasts more than 500 stars however the narrative of nine stars* (those seen by the naked eye) are now conveyed as:

• Matariki – the mother of the other stars in the constellation.
• Pōhutukawa – connects Matariki to the dead and is the star that carries our dead across the year 
• Tupuānuku – is tied to food that grows in the ground 
• Tupuārangi – is tied to food that comes from above your head such as birds and fruit 
• Waitī – is tied to food that comes from fresh water 
• Waitā – is tied to food that comes from salt water 
• Waipunarangi – is tied to the rain 
• Ururangi – is tied to the winds 
• Hiwaiterangi/Hiwa – is the youngest star in the cluster, the star you send your wishes to 
• Rehua is the father but is not considered part of the Matariki constellation. 

* 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘸𝘪 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 

Matariki is an abbreviation of ‘Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea' (‘The eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea’). 

How to find the Matariki star cluster?
Educator Hauiti Gardiner shows you how to find the Matariki star cluster during the Māori New Year