Celebrating the Stars and Their Maker on Māori New Year

As Matariki is celebrated in New Zealand, Christians navigate a return to the festival’s pagan roots.

The appearance of the Matariki star cluster (also known as Pleiades) in the New Zealand sky just before sunrise in late June or early July marks the new year in traditional Māori culture. Celebrated with feasts, prayers at dawn, and time spent with family, Matariki is a time to remember those who died in the past year, celebrate and give thanks for the present, and look forward to the future.