Every winter, just before dawn, something magical rises in the eastern sky — a cluster of shimmering stars that signals reflection, remembrance, and renewal across Aotearoa.
This is Matariki, the Māori New Year, and one of the most meaningful celebrations in our cultural calendar.

At DiscoveriesNZ, we love this time of year. It’s a moment to slow down, reconnect with whānau, honour those who came before us, and set intentions for the year ahead. And in 2026, Matariki carries a theme that feels especially powerful.

Let’s explore what Matariki is, how it’s celebrated, how cultures around the world have honoured this same star cluster for thousands of years, and how you can bring its spirit into your home and whānau traditions.

What Is Matariki

Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster, a group of bright stars that reappears in the mid‑winter sky each year. Its rising marks the beginning of the Māori lunar year — a time traditionally used to:

• remember loved ones who have passed
• celebrate the present with kai and community
• plan for the future with hope and intention

Matariki is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a reminder that we’re part of something bigger — a cycle of seasons, stories, and connections that stretch across generations.

A Star Cluster Across Cultures

One of the most beautiful things about Matariki is that it isn’t just significant in Aotearoa — this same cluster has been honoured across the world for thousands of years.
Different cultures saw the same stars and created stories with strikingly similar themes: renewal, harvest, navigation, and the turning of the year.

Here are a few examples:

🌾 Japan — Subaru (昴)

In Japan, the cluster is known as Subaru, meaning “to unite”.
It symbolises connection and harmony — themes that align closely with Matariki’s focus on whānau and community.

🔥 Greece — The Pleiades Sisters

In Greek mythology, the stars represent the Seven Sisters, daughters of Atlas.
Their rising signalled the start of the sailing season — a time of movement, exploration, and new beginnings.

🌿 Aboriginal Australian Traditions — The Seven Sisters Songline

Across Aboriginal nations, the Pleiades are also known as the Seven Sisters, forming one of the most widespread and enduring songlines on the continent.
These stories often follow the Sisters as they travel across the land, pursued by a male figure represented by the star Orion.
The cluster’s rising is tied to seasonal change, food gathering, and women’s knowledge, echoing Matariki’s themes of renewal, kai, and the cycles of the natural world.

🌊 Polynesia — A Navigator’s Guide

Across the Pacific, from Hawai‘i to Rarotonga, the cluster guided ocean voyagers.
Its rising helped determine planting seasons, fishing patterns, and ceremonial calendars.

Despite the distance between these cultures, the themes remain remarkably similar: renewal, guidance, unity, and the rhythm of the seasons.
Matariki is part of a global human story — one written in the stars.

The 2026 Theme: Matariki Herenga Waka - For Everyone

The official theme for 2026 is Matariki Herenga Waka, a phrase that speaks to unity, belonging, and the gathering of many peoples. Literally translated as “Matariki is a mooring place for all canoes,” this theme is a beautiful reminder that Matariki is for everyone — every culture, every community, every whānau.

Rooted in the proverb “Tāmaki herenga waka” (Tāmaki, the gathering place of many canoes), this year’s theme honours the hosting of the national celebrations in Tāmaki Makaurau and acknowledges the region’s incredible diversity. Just as canoes from across the Pacific once arrived and anchored together, people from all walks of life now call this place home.

Matariki Herenga Waka invites us to:

• come together in inclusivity and shared celebration
• honour the many cultures that make up Aotearoa
• recognise that Matariki connects us all — past, present, and future
• share knowledge, stories, and traditions across communities

At its heart, this theme reminds us that Matariki is a time to gather, to learn from one another, and to celebrate the richness of who we are — collectively. It’s an open invitation to anchor ourselves in the values of reflection, celebration, and preparation, and to welcome everyone into the kaupapa of the Māori New Year.

How Matariki Is Celebrated Across Aotearoa

Matariki celebrations vary from iwi to iwi, whānau to whānau — but the heart of the season is always connection.
Common customs include:

🕯️ Remembering Loved Ones (Matariki Hunga Nui)

A moment to honour those who have passed since the last rising of Matariki.
Many whānau light candles, share stories, or release karakia into the morning sky.

🍲 Sharing Kai (Matariki Heri Kai)

Feasting is central to Matariki — from hāngī and boil‑ups to shared breakfasts after early‑morning star‑watching.
Food becomes a way to celebrate life, gratitude, and togetherness.

🌱 Setting Intentions (Matariki Manako Nui)

Just like the stars guide navigators, Matariki guides our hopes for the year ahead.
People set goals, plant new crops, or begin new creative or personal journeys.

🎶 Community Celebrations

Across Aotearoa, you’ll find kapa haka, storytelling, lantern walks, night markets, and star‑gazing events — all celebrating the richness of Māori culture.

Meaningful Matariki Gifts from DiscoveriesNZ

Matariki gifting is all about connection, gratitude, and symbolism — not commercial hype.
Here are some beautiful taonga from DiscoveriesNZ that align with the themes of remembrance, renewal, and whānau:

🌿 Pounamu Pendants

Pounamu carries mana, protection, and deep cultural significance.
A koru, toki, or twist pendant makes a heartfelt gift for someone beginning a new chapter or someone you want to honour.

🌀 Bone Carvings

Lightweight, beautifully carved, and rich in meaning — bone pendants are perfect for celebrating growth, unity, and connection.
They’re especially meaningful for tamariki or whānau members who love symbolic pieces.

🌊 Hei Matau (Fish Hook) Designs

A powerful symbol of strength, safe travels, and prosperity — ideal for someone embarking on a new journey or stepping into leadership.

⭐ Matariki Pendant Necklace - Designed to  celebrate Matariki

A beautiful way to carry the season’s meaning close to the heart. Our Matariki Pendant Necklace features a delicate star‑inspired design that honours the cluster’s guiding light and the kaupapa of reflection, remembrance, and renewal.

It’s a thoughtful gift for someone beginning a new chapter, someone you want to acknowledge, or anyone who feels a special connection to the stars. Lightweight, elegant, and full of symbolism — it’s a piece that speaks to the spirit of Matariki in a gentle, meaningful way.

💚 Taonga for the Home

Small carved pieces, display stands, or symbolic décor items can be used to create a Matariki remembrance space or intention corner in the home.

Every piece on discoveries.co.nz is chosen with care, photographed beautifully, and ready to gift — making it easy to find something that truly resonates.

Bringing Matariki Into Your Whānau Traditions

If you’re building your own Matariki traditions, here are some simple, meaningful ideas:

• Host a shared kai night with dishes that honour your whakapapa
• Create a small remembrance space with candles or taonga
• Gift a symbolic piece to someone who has supported you this year
• Write down intentions for the year ahead and place them somewhere special
• Wake early to watch the stars rise — even if it’s just from your backyard

Matariki is about connection, not perfection. It’s the small, heartfelt moments that matter.

He Wā Whakanui - A Time to Celebrate

Matariki invites us to pause, breathe, and reconnect — with the land, with each other, and with the stories that shape us.
Whether you’re gathering with whānau, honouring loved ones, or setting new intentions, may this Matariki bring warmth, clarity, and abundance to your year ahead.

And if you’re looking for a meaningful taonga to gift this season, we’d love to help you find the perfect piece at discoveries.co.nz.