Celebrate Matariki with these whakataukī Whakanui i a Matariki mā ēnei whakataukī
Matariki is a time to reflect, share stories, and plan for the New Year. It’s the perfect time to connect with whakataukī
whakataukīproverbsMāori | noun and learn from the wisdom of those who came before us.
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Ka rere ana a Matariki, ka rere hoki ngā kōrero pūrākau, ka whakatikatika mō te Tau Hou. He wā tino pai tēnei ki te ako me te kuhu atu ki ngā whakamāramatanga o ngā whakataukī tuku iho.
About whakataukī
A whakataukī is a timeless proverb, significant saying, observation, or witty remark said by someone now unknown. If the person who said the proverb is known, the proverb is a whakatauākī. Ākī means ‘said by someone’.
Many people use whakataukī to help guide them to make decisions, think about things differently, and gain insight or advice. There are many whakataukī that can help us celebrate Matariki and guide us during this time of reflection and planning for the New Year.
A whakataukī is a timeless proverb, significant saying, observation, or witty remark said by someone now unknown. If the person who said the proverb is known, the proverb is a whakatauākī. Ākī means ‘said by someone’.
Many people use whakataukī to help guide them to make decisions, think about things differently, and gain insight or advice. There are many whakataukī that can help us celebrate Matariki and guide us during this time of reflection and planning for the New Year.
Here are some whakataukī that have a connection to Matariki. Enjoy learning a little about their meaning and listen to recordings of them.
Caption
Hāngī, Hokianga, 1957, by Eric Lee-Johnson, Hokianga Harbour. Purchased 1997 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (O.006431)
Whakataukī for Matariki
Hauhake tū, ka tō Matariki. The harvest ends when Matariki sets.
In the month of Haratua (May), you can see the Matariki star cluster set with the sun in the west. When this happens, it’s a sign that the season for harvesting food has come to an end. This whakataukī is used before winter begins to remind people to prepare themselves for the cold months ahead.
Why is it important to prepare for winter before it arrives?
What can you do to prepare for the long, cold nights during Matariki?
Matariki ahunga nui. The great mounds of Matariki.
Traditionally, Matariki is a time when food like kūmara
kūmarasweet potatoesMāori | noun are stored in large piles and shared among friends, whānau, and the wider community. This whakataukī speaks about manaakitanga manaakitangahospitalityMāori | noun, sharing food and being together with loved ones.
What kinds of kai do you and your whānau celebrate with during special times like Matariki?
What other things, beside kai, can you share with whānau and friends during Matariki?
Matariki hunga nui. Matariki of many people.
During Matariki festivities people gather together to celebrate the passing of one year and the hope of a new one. This whakataukī speaks to us about the gathering of people at Matariki time.
How will you celebrate Matariki this year?
What can you do this Matariki to bring people together?
Kai kitea a Matariki, ka rere te korokoro. When Matariki is seen, the lamprey migrates.
Korokoro, also known as kanakana or pihapiharau, is an eel-like fish. In English this fish is called the lamprey. Korokoro start life in fresh water rivers. When they are around four years old they swim down to the sea, where they live for another three or four years. After this, they return to fresh water rivers to breed. They make these long and sometimes hard journeys at Matariki time, often at night.
What changes in te taiao
te taiaonatureMāori | noun can you see at this time of year?
What tells you that it’s Matariki time?
Ko Matariki te kaitō i te hunga pakeke ki te pō. Matariki draws the frail into the night.
The Matariki star cluster rises in the sky in winter. During these cold days and nights, those who are old and frail can be more at risk of passing away. While we look to the future during Matariki, it’s also a time to think about the past, and mourn those we have lost in the last year.
Is there someone special in your whānau that has passed away? What will you reflect about their life this Matariki?
What can you do to take care of someone who is old, frail or in need of extra support this Matariki?
Kua haehae ngā hihi o Matariki. The rays of Matariki are spread.
People say this whakataukī when Matariki can be seen bright in the night sky. The rays of its stars are thought to carry messages for the people. Matariki is a time to share stories, reflect on the past, and plan for the future.
What messages for others will you share this Matariki?
Why is it important to share stories and messages with others? What can we learn from these?
He kōrero tuku iho, he mana te kupu. Ko te nuinga he reo whakarongo, he reo wahapū rānei nā tētahi tē mōhiotia nā wai te kōrero. Ko te whakatauākī he kupu tēnei e tohu ana e mōhiotia ana te kaikōrero. Arā, he kupu ākī nāna.
E kōrero whānuitia ana ētahi whakataukī ki te āwhina ki te whakatikatika, ki te rapu māramatanga anō. Arā noa atu ngā whakataukī hei manaaki ki te whakanui i a Matariki hei tohutohu i tēnei wā o te hokinga mahara, o te whakatikatika mō te Tau Hou.
He kōrero tuku iho, he mana te kupu. Ko te nuinga he reo whakarongo, he reo wahapū rānei nā tētahi tē mōhiotia nā wai te kōrero. Ko te whakatauākī he kupu tēnei e tohu ana e mōhiotia ana te kaikōrero. Arā, he kupu ākī nāna.
E kōrero whānuitia ana ētahi whakataukī ki te āwhina ki te whakatikatika, ki te rapu māramatanga anō. Arā noa atu ngā whakataukī hei manaaki ki te whakanui i a Matariki hei tohutohu i tēnei wā o te hokinga mahara, o te whakatikatika mō te Tau Hou.
Anei ētahi whakataukī e hono atu ana ki te huinga o Matariki. Kia ngahau ki te whakarongo atu, kia wāhi iti nei te ako ki ngā kōrero.
Caption
Hāngī, Hokianga, 1957, by Eric Lee-Johnson, Hokianga Harbour. Purchased 1997 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (O.006431)
Ngā whakataukī mō Matariki
Hauhake tū, ka tō Matariki.
Ka rere ana a Haratua, ka kite hoki i te huinga o Matariki e rere ana me te rā ki te uru. Ka kite ana tēnei tohu, ka mōhiotia kua mutu te wā o te hauhake. Ko tā tēnei whakataukī he whakaara i te iwi ki te whakatikatika i mua i te kaupeka o Takurua, i ngā marama tarakina roa.
Ka whakatikatika i mua mai i te kaupeka o Takurua ki te aha?
Ka aha koe ki te whakatikatika i mua i te kaupeka o Takurua?
Matariki ahunga nui.
Ko Matariki ahunga nui, e kōrero ana ki ngā ahunga nui o ngā rua kūmara, ā, he mea tohatoha ki waenganui i te whānau me te hapū. E kōrero ana tēnei whakataukī ki te manaakitanga, arā, ki te kai tahitanga, ki te nohonga tahitanga a te hunga aroha.
He aha ngā kai ka kai tahi ake nei koutou ko tō whānau i tēnei wā hira o Matariki?
He aha ētahi atu mea, atu i ngā kai, ka āhei e te whānau ki te mahi tahi i te wā o Matariki?
Matariki hunga nui.
Ka rere ana a Matariki, he tau tawhito ka rere, he tau hou ka ara mai. Ka kōrerotia tēnei whakataukī ki tētahi hunga nui, huinga rahi i te wā o Matariki.
Ka pēhea tō whakanui i a Matariki i tēnei tau?
Ka aha koe ki te whakarite hui nui i tēnei wā o Matariki?
Kai kitea a Matariki, ka rere te korokoro.
Ko te korokoro, e kīia nei he kanakana, he pihapiha rānei, he uri nā Ihorangi. Ka tīmata te mataora a te tuna i roto i ngā awa, i ngā roto. Nō te whā tau te pakeke ka tere atu ki te moana, ki reira noho atu ai, tērā ka toru, ka whā ngā tau. Muri atu i tēnā, ka hoki mai rātou ki ngā awa, ki ngā roto ki te whakaputa uri. Ka rere ana a Matariki i te pō, ka rere mai hoki ngā tuna i te rerenga roa.
He aha ētahi rerekētanga kua kite koe i te taiao, i tēnei kaupeka o te wā?
He aha rānei ētahi tohu e mōhio ai koe tērā te huinga o Matariki e rere ana?
Ko Matariki te kaitō i te hunga pakeke ki te pō.
Ka rere te huinga o Matariki i te kaupeka o Takurua. I roto i ngā pō anuanu ngingio, ka tōia atu ngā mea pakeke, ngā mea ngoikore ki te pō. Ahakoa te anga whakamua o te titiro i tēnei wā o Matariki, he hokinga mahara anō tēnei ki te tangi atu ki a rātou kua whetū rangitia i te tau kua huri.
He tangata kura rānei o tō whānau kua tōia ki te pō i te tau kua huri? He aha ētahi whakaaro ka hua ake mōna i a koe i tēnei wā o Matariki.
Ka aha koe ki te manaaki i tētahi kua pakeke, kua ngoikore, he take rānei kia manaakitia i te wā o Matariki?
Kua haehae ngā hihi o Matariki.
Ka kōrerotia tēnei whakataukī i te wā ka kite mārama atu i a Matariki i te rangi. Tērā te whakaaro he kaikarere mai ōna tīaho. Ko Matariki te wā e kōrerorero ai ngā pūrākau, he hokinga mahara, he whakatikatika mō ngā rā kei te taka mai.
He aha ētahi atu kupu hei kōrero atu mō Matariki?
He aha i hira ai ki te kōrerorero i ngā pūrākau me ngā kupu matua ki ētahi atu? He aha ngā hua kei roto i ēnei hei akoranga.
Rapua ētahi kōrero mō ēnei whakataukī mā te pānui i a Matariki: Matariki: The Star of the Year (Rangi Matamua, 2017, Huia Publishers).
