Māori astronomy | tātai arorangi

A DigitalNZ Story by squiggle_top

Resources related to Māori astronomy | tātai arorangi

Māori astronomy, Pleiades, Puanga, tātai arorangi, Matariki

Matariki 

With the first public holiday to celebrate Matariki in 2022, many resources, interviews and media content were created to celebrate this. "Matariki - the Māori New Year" story (listed below) collates wide range of resources related to Matariki, and the journey to the public holiday. 

Society Of Māori Astronomy Research & Traditions (S.M.A.R.T.)

SMART was established during the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, and is made up of astronomical educators, Māori knowledge experts and research specialists. 

Resources to help understand this topic include Revitalising Māori Astronomy (2012) and A review of Māori Astronomy in Aotearoa-New Zealand (2013). 

SMART’s vision is to empower young people & communities to become engineers, scientists and astronauts.

Society of Māori Astronomy Research and Traditions – SMART

Science Learning Hub

Dr Pauline Harris (VUW, SMART) and David Perenara-O’Connell (Māngai, Tāwhaki Joint Venture) discuss tātai arorangi.

Tātai arorangi – Māori astronomy

Science Learning Hub

Dr Pauline Harris (VUW, SMART) and David Perenara-O’Connell (Māngai, Tāwhaki Joint Venture).

Space whakapapa

Science Learning Hub

Exploring ideas and sharing knowledge

Image: Māori astronomy - Te Whānau Mārama

Professor Rangi Mātāmua shares Māori understandings of the night sky.

Māori astronomy - Te Whānau Mārama

Radio New Zealand

Image: Winter stars

In this sound clip Hirini Melbourne sings ‘Ngā whetū’ (the stars).

Winter stars

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The science of Matariki

Professor Rangi Mātāmua talks about the book which has preserved his ancestors' knowledge of Māori astronomy.

The science of Matariki

Radio New Zealand

Image: Celebrating Puanga

In this video, Ngāti Rangi gather on Mt Ruapehu in 2019 to celebrate Puanga.

Celebrating Puanga

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Early Māori astronomers predicted year ahead by stars of Matariki

Stardome astronomy educator and astro-photographer Josh Kirkley discusses the significance of Matariki.

Early Māori astronomers predicted year ahead by stars of Matariki

Radio New Zealand

The difference between Puanga and Matariki

Some iwi celebrate Puanga rather than Matariki. This article from Te Papa explains why.  

Story revised and updated January 2025.