Ngā Whetū o Matariki
Ngā Whetū o Matariki
Mānawatia a Matariki
This lesson focuses on the individual stars in the Matariki cluster and the domains in which they represent. Students will explore the scientific, cultural, literal and metaphorical understandings for each star.
See the “About this resource” box below to download resources:
- Mahere-Ako-2-Māori.pdf
- Mahere-Ako-2-English.pdf
- Mahere-Ako-2-Ngā-Whetū-o-Matariki-Pepa-Mahi.docx.
- Mahere-Ako-2-Pikitia-Whakanikoniko.pdf
Kawenga Mahi
Topic Introduction and Explanation
What do you know about each star of Matariki? What are the components that make a star? What is a star made out of?
Our ancestors used their knowledge of the environment, the moon, the position of the sun and stars to help them in daily activities like navigating the oceans, forecasting the best time of the year to plant and harvest, or when to rest and wānanga.
All of the decisions that our ancestors made were based on their intrinsic knowledge of their environment.
Other indigenous people around the world have their own belief systems and practices regarding Matariki. Some refer to Matariki as Pleiades or Subaru. In Polynesia alone there are many recorded differences for the name Matariki.
Our ancestors understood Matariki without new technologies like telescopes or rocket ships. They understood how to apply the messages of Matariki to their daily lives without Western Science.
For Māori, it is not so much what makes a star, but more importantly how it is understood and used by the people in practical daily living.
Now, in the modern world we are able to use technology to our advantage guided by the knowledge our ancestors have left us.
Task 1: Research Assignment
This is a research assignment.
Students will select one star within the Matariki cluster to research and answer the following questions.
- How are stars created?
- What causes them to shine brightly or dimly?
- What is a star?
- What is the expected lifespan of a star?
- How far away is the star you’ve selected from the earth?
- What makes this star different from all the others in the sky?
- How do stars move in the sky? Show the cycle that the star orbits around the Earth.
- What is the English name for the star?
- Where does the star get its English name from?
- Explain why you think that Māori used stars to navigate the sea?
- What is the connection between how Māori view the stars and how non-Māori view the stars? Is there any connection? Please explain your findings
Once you have gathered all of your data you will create an infographic or presentation to present your findings.
Heading
Mānawatia a Matariki - Kōpaki Whakaako
This Matariki unit is designed specifically for educators with little to no prior knowledge about Matariki but can also be customised to any level of knowledge of Matariki. The primary goal of this unit is to equip you with all the necessary information and content required to teach this topic succe...
1 of 16He whakaurunga ki a Matariki
This lesson is an introduction to Matariki with special focus on the whakapapa of Matariki.
2 of 16Te Tautoru Nui o Matariki 1
This lesson focuses on students understanding the connection of the maramataka ā-whetū and Matariki.
3 of 16Te Tautoru Nui o Matariki 2
We will be looking at each month of the Māori new year to understand their unique characteristics. What did our ancestors do during these months? What was the environment like during these months? What season does each month fall into and how are these characteristics noted?
4 of 16Whakamoe Tau
This lesson focuses on students understanding the concept of Whakamoe Tau. During Matariki, our ancestors would reflect on the events of the year gone to help plan for the year ahead ensuring prosperity and affluence for the iwi.
5 of 16Ngā whakataukī mō Matariki
Students will learn about whakataukī and use their language skills to decipher the meaning of each whakataukī and then recreate well known whakataukī in their own words.
6 of 16Te Reo o ngā Whetū
Students will read an excerpt from “Te Tāhū o Ranginui Whakatūria Te Whare Kōkōrangi” written by Hōhepa Tuahine in 2015 at the University of Waikato. This thesis is the first academic piece of literature written in te reo Māori on Te Whare Kōkōrangi.
7 of 16Te Rangi Motuhake o Matariki
This lesson looks at the establishment of the official Matariki national holiday. Students will also learn about significant historical events that helped to contribute to the formation of Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022.
8 of 16Te Pūtake o te Riri
This lesson is a continuation of Te Rangi Motuhake o Matariki and looks at the political achievements that can be accomplished for Māori, for Aotearoa, by one small act.
9 of 16Mānawatia a Matariki - Karakia 1
This lesson focuses on the importance of preparations and karakia in the Hautapu ceremony. Students will watch the first official Matariki public holiday ceremony led by Tā Pou Tēmara, Professor Rangi Matamua and others in Wellington, in 2022.
10 of 16Mānawatia a Matariki - Karakia 2
The following 4 lessons are focussed on preparing students to demonstrate a roleplay Hautapu ceremony at kura. This lesson focuses on the importance of karakia and the important role it plays in our customs and practices like the Hautapu ceremony during Matariki
11 of 16Mānawatia a Matariki - Karakia 3
This lesson focuses on the importance of karakia in the Hautapu ceremony. Students will learn karakia created by Tā Pou Temara, Professor Rangi Mātāmua for use in the Hautapu ceremony during Matariki.
12 of 16Matariki Hunga Nui
This lesson looks at the ‘umu kohukohu whetū’ during Matariki ceremony and the ‘heri kai’ in hākari festivities during Matariki celebrations.
13 of 16Hautapu
This lesson focuses on the entire Hautapu ceremony. Over the past few weeks, students have been learning about the different components of the Hautapu. They will now apply these learnings to a roleplay Hautapu at kura.
14 of 16Kōrero Tene
Students will demonstrate their understanding of the information and topics taught over the 8 weeks of this Matariki unit by impromptu speech.
15 of 16Mānawatia a Matariki - He Aromatawai
This is a mock exam for students to demonstrate their understanding of this 8-week unit, Mānawatia a Matariki. This is a summative assessment that covers reading, writing, listening and speaking.
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About this resource
Wāhanga Ako: Pūtaiao, Tikanga-ā-Iwi
Taumata: Taumata 6, Taumata 7, Taumata 8
Learning Intention: Students will use their research skills to create an infographic about the stars to present their findings similar to the example in the Mahere-Ako-2-English.pdf.
Kaupapa: Te Mātahi o te Tau Matariki Ahunga Nui
Kohinga: Mānawatia a Matariki