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Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa Tongarewa

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What and who is Matariki?

Learn about the stars of Matariki, watch a video showing you how to find the cluster, and test your knowledge in our quiz.

  • A black flag with the logo of the Matariki public holiday, consisting of nine stylised stars, flies in the early morning Wellington breeze, with an orange sunrise behind it

    What is Matariki?

    Everything you need to know about the star and its cluster, when it rises, what it means, and how to pronounce it.

  • Matariki star cluster

    Matariki star facts

    Get the facts about Matariki – a star cluster known worldwide and treasured in Aotearoa New Zealand.

  • Illustration of nine faces representing the nine stars of Matariki

    Ngā whetū o Matariki

    There are over 500 stars in the Matariki cluster – but only a handful are visible without the use of a telescope. Each of the stars has their own unique characteristics that Māori acknowledge and honour. Meet the stars here!

  • A woven kite on a white background. The shape is like a fat 't' with whiskers.

    Taonga and stars of the Matariki star cluster

    There are nine stars in the Matariki star cluster, Pōhutukawa, Tipuānuku, Tipuārangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipunarangi, Ururangi, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, and Matariki, Read about the connections between each of the stars and taonga in the Te Papa collections.