matakite: 1st Matariki Month - Pipiri

matakite: 1st Matariki Month - Pipiri
Mate atu he tete kura, ara mai ano he tete kura
One frond dies and another frond takes its place (just like the Matariki Year)

12th Matariki Month - Haratua

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Māori - Haratua

12th Month of the Māori Year - May/June

 

E pūāwai tonu ana ētahi Rātā. E whakamine ana te Kawau Pū. He wā ngahuru ka taka ngā raurau o ngā rākau. Kei roto katoa ngā Kūmara i ngā pātaka kai. E makariri ana a Papatūānuku. Kua oti katoa ngā mahi hauhake huawhenua i roto i tēnei wā o te marama āwhio.

Some Rata are flowering. Black Shag are seen found roosting in larger numbers. Deciduous natives start losing their leaves. Sweet Potato are now safely stored. Earth is growing cold. All tasks connected with harvest are completed within this lunar cycle.

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Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Kawau Pū

Sign of the Season - Black Shag (Phalacrocorax carbo)

“He Kawau ka tuku ki roto ki te aro maunga”
“A cormorant makes straight for his home on the heights”

This whakatauākī (proverb) reflects on the Kawau as a warrior of execution and accomplishment due to the direct flight of this bird, a reference to those who remain focused on their objectives.

When Kawau Pū nest, the earth has grown cold and all tasks connected with harvesting crops are completed.

Kawau Pū, a black-footed shag also referred to as the Black or Great Cormorant, is a large inland shag native to New Zealand that grows to a height of 88cm and can weigh 2.2kg. It is predominately covered in sleek blue-black feathers with white feathered cheeks and white thighs when breeding. It has a pale grey bill and green eyes. Kawau Pū have long necks are very strong swimmers with their short legs and webbed feet, they are capable of diving to a depth of 12m feeding on fish, eels, shellfish and freshwater crays.

They are commonly seen from the coasts to high alpine regions of North and South Islands, perching precariously on posts, rock ledges and in trees, or roosting together in colonies on dishevelled nests of seaweed and sticks from Haratua to Whiringa-ā-nuku (12th to the 5th Matariki month).

Kawau Pū are known as Te Mokopuna a Terepunga, the grandchildren of Terepunga, who with Noho-tumutumu are the personified forms of the Kawau. Terepunga is descended from Ranginui-ā-Tama (or Tamaiwaho) an Atua of War who in turn is descended from Rangi and Papa. Kawau were held responsible for instigating the war between the birds of the land and seabirds.

11th Matariki Month - Paenga-whawha

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Māori - Paenga-whāwhā

11th Month of the Māori Year - April/May

E puāwai ana te Maire Tawake. E tipu ana te Harore ki runga ki ngā rākau i ngā wāhi māku. Ka whānau hēki hoki ngā Wētā. Kei te kohikohia ngā Kūmara ki ngā taha o ngā māra hei mau ki ngā whata, ngā pātaka me ngā hāpuke. He iti noa te kaha o Tama nui te Rā. Kei te āhua kōpeke a Paptūānuku.

Swamp Maire are now in flower. Turkey Tails grow on trees in damp places. Weta begin laying eggs. Sweet Potato are stacked by the edge of the field in preparation for storage. Day light is shorter and Earth is much cooler.

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Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Maire Tawake

Sign of the Season - Swamp Maire (Syzgium maire)

When the flowers of Maire Tawake appear the air becomes cool and daylight grows shorter.
Maire Tawake, known also as Whāwhākou and Tuhuhi, is an evergreen tree, native to New Zealand with smooth bark and a multi-branched canopy growing to a height of 15 m. It is found growing in the marshes of the North and upper South Island forests from sea level to 450 m where it develops a system of breathing roots to cope with the waterlogged soils of the swamplands. It also survives when surrounded by water.

Clusters of creamy-white flowers (similar to those of white rata) are borne upon single stems with paired opposite leaves during Paenga-whāwhā (11th Matariki Year). Flowers follow the juicy red berries of Maire Tawake hold only one seed and take twelve months to ripen. The berries were relished by Mäori and earlier settlers who made Waiwaka pudding, a deliciously mouth-watering sweet with an abundance of juice. The berries contain an extremely high concentration of antioxidants (18 times higher than blueberries).

The bark and leaves of Maire Tawake were used as rongoa, traditional medicine and a blue-black dye was obtained from the bark and leaves of the Tuhuhi.

10th Matariki Month - Poutu-te-Rangi

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Māori -

Poutū-te-rangi

10th Month of the Māori Year - February/March

Ki te kitea a Poutū-te-rangi e maranga mai ana i te Rāwhiti, he tohu tēnei mo te wā Hauhake. Tïmata i te wā o te maranga o Whānui e kitea ana ki te tahatū o te rangi o te Raki ki te Rāwhiti. Kei te whai huarākau te Kaikōmako te Māhoe me te Karaka. He wā ngahuru ka taka ngā huruhuru o ngā manu. He wā rerenga atu o te Koekoeā, ka timata tōnā haere ki te whenua o Papua New Guinea, me te rere hoki o te Pīpīwharauroa ki ngā moutere te taha Rāwhiti o Fiji.

When Altair is seen rising in the east, prepare for the harvest. It is time to begin when Vega is seen rising in the northeast. White Wood, Kaikōmako and NZ Laurel are fruiting. Birds lose their feathers. Long-tailed Cuckoo leave for Papua New Guinea and the Shining Cuckoo fly to the islands east of Fiji.

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Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Poutū-te-rangi

Sign of the Season - Altair

‘Te ngahuru tikotikoiere, Ko Poutū-te-rangi te matahi o te tau...’
‘Altair carries the first fruits of the year, a bountiful time... ’

The above lines, from an oriori (lullaby) whose main narration relates to the mythical theme of the kūmara, are sung to children when the bright star Poutū-te-rangi appears in the sky.

The oriori is said to have been composed by Enoka Te Pakaru of Te Aitanga-a-mahaki (Taurawhiti/East Coast).

Poutū-te-rangi marks the completion of the growing season. When its light appears before dawn it signals a prosperous time when crops can be lifted and storehouses filled.

Poutū-te-rangi, a navigational star and food-bearer associated with the cultivation of kūmara is located some 15-17 light years from Earth in Aquila, a constellation found in Mangōroa, the Milky Way. Poutū-te-rangi is one of the closest stars visible with the naked eye and is noted for its extremely rapid rotation.

Its appearance heralds a time when Tohunga or Mata Paheru enter the kūmara fields to appraise the maturing tubers. Harvesting takes place over six days from the waning moon-night of Korekore-turua (22), after Whānui (Vega) is sighted, when all signs of mist and dew have left the morning and continues till the Sun reaches its zenith, when harvesting ceases to avoid any dampness affecting the crop.

Poutū-te-rangi is seen as a large hue or gourd in the heavens, its name originates from the Pou or posts that Tāne Mahuta used to lift Rangi the Sky Father from Papatūānuku the Earth Mother so that the light and warmth of the Sun could fall upon Earth.

9th Matariki Month - Hui Tanguru

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Māori - Hui Tanguru

9th Month of the Māori Year - January/February

Kua maranga mai a Rēhua ki te paerangi, te tahatū o Tonga ki te Rāwhiti. He tohu tēnei o te mutunga o te wā tupu o te huawhenua, huarākau. Kei te maoa mai ngā huarākau o te Ngaio me te Mokopapa, e kitea ana e inaina mai ana i roto i ngā ringa o Tama nui te Ra. Kei te tino wera me te tino maroke a Papatūānuku.

Antares is seen rising on the southern horizon bringing the end of the growing season. Berries are ripening on the Ngaio and Skinks are seen basking in sun. Earth is now very hot and dry.

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Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Mokopapa

Sign of the Season - Skink (Oligosoma nigriplantare)

‘Taua ki uta, taua ki te wai’

‘We of the land, we of the sea.’

This whakatauākī (proverb) refers to the choices made by Ikatere and Tū-te-wehiwehi (the sons of Punga), a reflection of decisions and choices once made by our own Ancestors. Choices that continue to affect our lives and direction today.

When Mokopapa are seen basking in sun, the rain has moved away, earth becomes dry and is very hot.

Mokopapa, most commonly encountered in the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand, are found living in dry open areas where small insects and spiders are plentiful such as decomposing leaf matter and logs, underneath stones and houses, and around gardens. The colours and markings of Mokopapa vary as does their size. They have exceptional senses, are extremely alert and can swim very well. They can grow to a length of 350mm and give birth to 8-9 live young during Hui Tanguru (9th Matariki month), unlike other skink who lay eggs.

They are ‘Te Aitanga-ā-Punga’, descendants of Punga, a supernatural being and ancestor of misshapen forms and son of Tangaroa (guardian of the sea), Two sons of Punga, Ikatere and Tü-te-wehiwehi, fled for their lives when Tāwhirimātea (guardian of storms), declared war on his brothers in revenge for the cruel separation of Papa and Rangi, their parents. Both brothers initially took refuge in the sea before Tū-te-wehiwehi fled to the forest where he became the ancestor of lizards, leaving his brother to become ancestor to certain species of fish.

Mokopapa, like Tuatara were perceived as kaitiaki for mauri, the guardians of life force who protected health, the vitality of trees and the forests and watched over the dead.

8th Matariki Month - Kohi Tatea

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Māori - Kohi Tātea
8th Month of the Māori Year - January/February

Kei te kai ngā manu i ngā huarākau o te Kōtukutuku kei te rongohia te waiata o te tātarakihi i te atatū. He maha ngā putiputi o te Rātā me te Kānuka. Kua reri ki te hauhake i ngā huawhenua tuatahi.

Birds feed on the fruit of the Fuchsia. The songs of Cicadas are heard in the first light. Northern Rata and large Teatree are covered in flowers and the first foods are ripe.

Tohu o Kaupeka - Rātā
Sign of the Season Northern Rata (Metrosideros robusta)

‘Kia mau ki te aka matua; kei mau ki te aka taepa .’
‘Hold fast to the strong parent vine, rely not on the loose vines.’

This whakatauākī (proverb) derived from the journey of Tāwhaki and his brother Karipi, cautions against casting away reality for illusion.

When the Rātā bursts into flower summer is at hand and the first foods are ripe.

Rātā, a native of New Zealand once widespread in forests from sea level to 900m throughout the North Island, Three Kings Island and in north-western regions of the South Island, can grow to a height of some 40m. The crimson flowers of Rātā can be seen straddling the canopies of the dark green forests from Kohi Tātea (8th Matariki month). Rātā begins life as an epiphyte in the crowns of tall forest trees.

As Rātā grows the epiphyte sends aerial roots down the outside of the trunk to take root in the earth, eventually overcoming its host in a massive network of gnarled vines that merge together encasing the host tree completely. Although Rātā is a very strong wood with an unusually long life, it eventually succumbs to a similar fate through its own shallow roots, and falls to the earth under the weight of numerous epiphytes, lilies, mosses and ferns that have fastened themselves to it over the years.

In Māori mythology Rātā, the son of Wahie-roa and Tonga-rau-tawhiri, is grandchild of Tāwhaki, who ascended the heavens by climbing the strong aka matua, or parent vine. The crimson of the flowers came from the blood of Tāwhaki, who later fell back to the world having been cast from the heavens.

7th Matariki Month - Hakihea

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Mäori - Hakihea

Seventh Month of the Mäori Year - December/January

Ka maranga mai a Pareärau i muri atu i a Tamanui te Rä. Kei te püäwai te Rewarewa me te Ngaio. E kï ana ngä manga o te Porokaiwhiri i te huaräkau. E täkaro whiu teka te Tiemiemi me te Kapowai i roto i te wera. Ka rongohia te reo o ngä pïpï manu, e waiata mai ana i o rätou köanga. He wä mutunga mö te whakatö i ngä huawhenua.

Jupiter rises after the Sun. Honeysuckle and Ngaio are in flower. Pigeonwood branches are covered with fruit. Blue Damselfly and Common Dragonfly dart around in the heat. Young chicks can be heard and seen in their nests. The last of the crops are now planted.

Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Pareärau
Sign of the Season - Jupiter

‘He whetü nui a Pareärau, he wahine karihika, he wahine tiweka’

‘The great star Jupiter, an immoral woman, a wandering woman.’

This whakatauäkï (proverb) is a reference to the wanton ways of Pareärau as she traverses the heavens. At this time of the year Pareärau rises in the morning beside Köpü (Venus), her companion. Over the course of following nights in the season however, Pareärau wanders away and is associated with numerous stars and other planets throughout the seasons.

When Pareärau rises the last of the crops will be planted.

Pareärau (as Jupiter), known also as Hine-i-tiweka and Köpünui, is a giant ball consisting of hydrogen and helium gas, is greater in size than all of the moons and other planetsPareärau combined.

Both Jupiter and Saturn are known as Pareärau, a direct reference to the cloud bands of Jupiter and rings around Saturn.

Another distinctive feature is the ‘eye’ of Jupiter, a swirling mass of gas and dust particles known as the Great Red Spot. Although Jupiter takes almost twelve years to orbit the Sun, it rotates on its axis much faster than all other planets, one ‘day’ on Jupiter equals around 600 minutes or ten hours on Earth.

When a shimmering halo of mist surrounded the bright yellow-white planet a storm, or wet-weather season approached. It is said that some Tohunga, Mäori priests with great mana, who were sufficiently versed in the ways of the heavens and heavenly bodies, were known to utilize this occurrence at will. When these Tohunga needed to communicate with distant regions they created the phenomenon of the shimmering halo of mist around Pareärau.

Rä Pare (Thursday) honours Pareärau (as Jupiter).

6th Matariki Month - Whiringa-ä-rangi

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Mäori

Whiringa-ä-rangi

6th Month of the Mäori Year - November/December

Ka maranga mai a Pareärau i te tahatü o te rangi rawhiti tonga ki te rawhiti. Kei te tiki kai ngä manu mö o rätou pïpï. Kei te püäwai te Pöhutukawa me te Hïnau. Kei te kitea hoki ngä pepe püriri i te ngahere. Kei te kaha te whiti o Tama Nui te Rä, he wä wera mö Papatüänuku.

Jupiter rises in the east-southeast. Birds gather food for their chicks. Pöhutukawa and Hïnau are covered in flowers. Puriri moths can be found in the forest. The sun is strong and earth is quite hot.

Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Pepetuna

Sign of the Season - Puriri Moth (Aenetus virescens)

‘He iti mokoroa e hinga puriri.’

‘The little mokoroa grub fells a puriri tree.’

This whakatauäkï (proverb) reminds us that small things can have a huge impact in our world.

When Pepetuna are found in the forests the sun is strong and earth is quite hot.

Pepetuna, known also as the Ghost Moth, is the largest native moth of New Zealand with wings spanning up to 15cm. It can be found in abundance during Whiringa-ä-rangi (6th Matariki month) laying its eggs in North Island forests.

Pepetuna is said to be descended from Hinepeke and Tuteahuru, grandson of Tane. Its name is a reference to the moth in its caterpillar form as a food source for migrating eels (tuna) and is known as a spiritual messenger seen flying at dusk and into the night back to realms of its ancestors.

The forewings of the male are soft velvety-green with pale green and white markings over white coloured hind wings. The forewings of the female are a velvet green with dark black mottled markings and soft camel coloured hind wings. Adult moths have a life span of one or two days, just long enough to lay eggs. They possess no mouthparts so cannot feed. When the eggs hatch, mokoroa or larvae spend a year on the ground in decaying wood before making their way into trunks of Puiriri and other native trees by excavating small tunnels that they seal with a webbing of silk for protection. They stay in these tunnels for up to seven years, growing up to 80mm on regenerating wood tissue just under the bark. It becomes a chrysalis upon leaving the tunnel before its brief transformation into a moth.

5th Matariki Month - Whiringa-ā-nuku

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Māori -

Whiringa-ā-nuku

5th Month of the Matariki Year - October/November

Mai i ngā huringa āwhio o Aotahi me te hokinga mai o te Koekoeā i tōna haerenga tawhiti nui tawhiti roa, he tohu tēnei me tīmata te whakatikatika i te whenua mō te whakatō i te kūmara. Kei te kai te Tūi i ngā putiputi o te Harakeke. Kei te mahana ake a Papatūānuku kua rite te wā mō te tō i te kākano. He maha, he nui ngā mahi ahuwhenua.

The celestial movements of Canopus and the return of the Long-tailed Cuckoo from migration signals the time to prepare ground for planting the kūmara crops. Tui are feeding on the flowers of Flax. Earth is now warm and ready for seed. People are busy with gardens.

Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Harakeke

Sign of the Season - New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax)

‘Hutia te rito. Hutia te rito o te harakeke. Kei hea te korimako e ko? Ki mai ki ahau, he aha te mea nui i te Ao? Maku e ki atu e, He tangata, He tangata, He tangata he!’

‘Pull out the centre of the flax plant, Where will the bellbird sing?

What is the most significant thing in the world? I say it is people, people, people!’

This waiata (song) refers to the importance of sustaining the lifeforce of Harakeke as a message of conservation, reminding us that our actions today impact upon our ability to survive tomorrow.

When Harakeke flowers appear the earth has warmed up and is ready for seed. People are planting their gardens.

Harakeke, an extremely important plant to Māori and one of the oldest species native to New Zealand and Norfolk Island can be found growing to 3m tall along river banks, in swamps and wetlands, on headlands and hillsides exposed to sunlight.

Harakeke represents the wellbeing and strength of whānau or family and tribe.

When a new shoot or rito appears it is held by awhi rito or parents, who in turn are embraced by tūpuna, grandparents and ancestors. The leaf of the whaea or mother is closest to the rito, the leaf opposite the whaea is the matua or father. When a new rito appears, matua become tupuna, whaea become matua and rito become whaea. When harvesting, only tūpuna are cut from each fan in the flax clump, the leaves of grandparents are used for production and ancestors return to base of the plant to nourish the whānau. If the rito is cut the plant dies. If awhi rito are cut the rito is vulnerable. Harvesting ceases during Whiringa-ā-nuku (5th Matariki month) when dark red-black flowers appear on tall stalks, allowing the plant to rest and replenish and the Tui, Korimako, Tauhou and Geckos to feed on the nectar. Harvest resumes in Hakihea (7th Matariki month) when seed pods have set.

Harakeke has many traditional uses.

4th Matariki Month - Mahuru

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Mäori - Mahuru

4th Month of the Mäori Year - September/October

Ka hoki mai te Pïpïwharauroa i tönä rerenga ki tawhiti nui ki tawhitiroa. Kua hoki mai ki töna wähi whänautanga, ki te whanau i öna hëki. E püäwai ana te Köwhai, te Puawananga me te Rangiora. Kua aata ara mai a Papatüänuku i tönä moenga roa o te Hötoke. Ka tïmata ngä mahi ki te whakatikatika i ngä mära kai.

Shining Cuckoo return from their migration to lay eggs in the place of their birth. Köwhai, Clematis and Bushmans Friend are now in flower. Earth slowly wakes from a long winter sleep and the ground is prepared for gardens.

Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Rangiora

Sign of the Season - Bushmans Friend

(Brachyglottis repanda)

‘Me te rau Rangiora’

‘Like Rangiora leaves’

This whakatauäkï (proverb) is a reference to the colour of clouds, snow, the crest of the oceans waves, and breast feathers of some birds being likened to the white undersides of the Rangiora leaf.

The underside of the leaves were used as pages for writing on, hence the term Pukapuka, or book

When Rangiora bursts into flower the life force returns to the earth and gardens are prepared for planting.

Rangiora, a native of New Zealand, can be found growing with one or more thin trunks as a small shrub, or tree to 7m tall from sea level to 750m in the North and upper South Island forests, regenerating bush, lowlands and coastal regions.

Rangiora, known also as Pukapuka, Aorangi, Whärangi and Raurëkau, is covered profusely in clusters of tiny cream coloured sweet-scented florets from Mahuru (4th Matariki month) through to Whiringa-ä-rangi (6th Matariki month). Its has broad dark green leathery wavy-edged leaves with soft, deeply membraneous white felt undersides.

The leaves of Rangiora were sacred to Mäori. They were used in ceremonies to clothe the souls of the dead for their journey to the place of departure and babies were wrapped in the leaves upon birth. Mäori also used them for clothing and rites for appeasing the Atua. Leaves were upturned and placed along paths for hunters to see in the night. They were used to line kete for pua bread made from the pollen of raupö and to wrap food in for hangi. Rangiora was also used as rongoa, traditional medicine, though should never be swallowed as all parts of the plant are poisonous, particularly the flowers and sap.

3rd Matariki Month - Here-turi-kōkā

Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Māori -

Here-turi-kōkā

3rd Month of the Māori Year - August/September

Ka maranga mai a Whakaahu ki te tahatü o te Raki ki te Räwhiti, kei te mau mai i te tupuranga höu. Ka maranga mai hoki a Pareärau ki te paerangi o te Räwhiti - Raki ki te Räwhiti ki te ärahi mai, te kukume mai i Te Mangöroa ki te rangi tü-häha. Ka kitea te Korimako e kai ana i ngä putiputi püäwai o te Puahou me ngä Kohekohe. E makariri tonu ana Papatüänuku, engari kei te mahana te tangata mai i te inaina i te ahi.

Castor rises in the northeast bringing new growth. Saturn rises on the east-northeastern horizon to lead The Milky Way through the heavens. Bellbirds are seen feeding on the flowers of Five-finger and Kohekohe. Earth is still cold, people are warmed by their fires.

Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Korimako

Sign of the Season - Bellbird, Anthornis melanura

‘He rite ki te kōpara e kō nei i te ata.’

‘It is said like the bellbird singing at dawn.’

This whakatauākī (proverb) reveals dawn as being the best time for spotting Korimako and is used when referring to someone who is skilled as an orator or who sings beautifully.

When the Korimako is seen feeding on the flowers of Puahou and Kohekohe, the earth is still cold and people are warmed by their fires.

Korimako, a native of New Zealand can be found in the forests and scrublands of off shore islands in the South and North Island and in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Growing to 20cm, the male is olive green with navy blue wings and tail feathers. Its head feathers carry a purplish tinge and its eyes are red. The female is browner and marked with a white stripe under her eye. Its beautiful song of ringing bells differing strangely in dialect from one region to another can be heard in transient times before nightfall and dawn, when it is known as te māra ō Tāne, the voice that calls people to begin working their gardens.

Korimako originated from Rehua or from the union of Tane and Kahuparauri as were the Tūi and Kōkako. It is a bird of great tapu known to carry messages to and from the Heavens. Punaweko and Tūwhaia are its guardians. The wisdom of Korimako and Tūi was heard in karakia prior to the battle of the birds and embraced by the birds of the forest as a strategy for being triumphant over the power of the sea birds. The presence of Korimako or Tūi signals a coming visitor. If rain is approaching Korimako includes a certain chime in its song - i te ō kōparapara.