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MATARIKI AT SUMMERSET What does Matariki mean to you?

A booklet by residents of Summerset

MATARIKI What does Matariki mean to you?

This Matariki, we posed a question to our residents - "What does Matariki mean to you?" In this booklet, you'll discover all the different ways residents are celebrating Matariki in 2022. Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of nine stars visible in the night sky during June/July, signalling the start of the Māori New Year. In Māori culture, Matariki is a time spent with loved ones celebrating new life, reflecting on the past and remembering those who have passed.

Kirsty Johnson - Programme Activities Lead I can't think of a better way to celebrate Aotearoa's first public holiday for Matariki than by sharing the wonderful creations in this booklet. Time and time again the talent in our villages, be it written or visual, practical or theoretical, is astounding. We have loved looking through your thought-provoking and meaningful entries - each one perfectly capturing what Matariki is all about.

For me, Matariki is a time to reflect on my homeland (Scotland) and all the things and people who make it so wonderful - all of which I miss dearly. Matariki is also a time to appreciate how grateful I am for this beautiful country I now call home and for all the memories yet to be created here. I hope you will enjoy this booklet and that this new year will be full of happiness for you all.

Here's what Matariki means to me in words… Matariki reminds me of the weaving together of two different cultures, to create a kete of understanding, colour and aroha. Margaret Willard - Summerset on the Coast

Jenny Hodges - Summerset by the Sea

"Matariki Togetherness" It was a great turnout at Summerset Mountain View's art class. The group spent their time getting ready for Matariki by painting and colouring Matariki pictures. We had great fun talking and laughing for over 2 hours, with the residents not wanting to stop. It brought us all together for an extremely wonderful afternoon.

Summerset Mountain View residents

Ann Barham - Summerset Mount Denby

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Gill McQuarrie - Summerset in the Bay

Barbara Dowding - Summerset in the Bay

To me Matariki means: Wellbeing and health, which is the center of the Maori new year calendar and the Greek “Pleiades” star cluster. Tupu-a-rangi is the food from above and Tupu-a-nuku is the food that grows in the soil. Ururangi is the winds that blow the canoe to new lands across Waita the great ocean. Waiti is the fresh water from Waipuna-a-rangi, the rain which gives Hiwa-i-te-rangi, growth and prosperity. Pohutukawa, the deceased, relating to the lone Pohutukawa at Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) and the departing place of the spirits as they return to Hawaiiki their ancestral homeland.

Eddie Vowles - Summerset by the Sea

June Arnold - Summerset down the Lane

Alan Martin - Summerset Falls To me, Matariki means the opportunity to meander in bush and beach and symbolically take nine photographs of native birds that abide just moments away from Summerset Falls in Warkworth.

What Does Matariki Mean To Me? Who are you Matariki? You are known worldwide but you are a mystery. You have other names, Pleiades, Subaru, the Seven Sisters. What are you Matariki? You are a cluster of seven sister stars, And together, you are a family. Why are you here Matariki? Are you a random fragment of our universe, Or are you part of God’s creation? Why are you worshipped Matariki? You bring the promise of nature’s bounty, Heralding hope for the future. You are whanau; you are family. Aotearoa welcomes you. You, are Matariki. Neil Pegler - Summerset at Karaka

“Papatuanuku” In Māori tradition Papatuanuku is the land. She is a Mother Earth figure who gives birth to all things, including people. Trees, birds and people are born from the land, which then nourishes them. Some traditions say that the land first emerged from under water.

A photo of an “Echo Print” that I did while still living in Auckland and was shown in a Matariki exhibition at Estuary Art Centre Orewa in 2019. Bev Head - Summerset Richmond Ranges

What Does Matariki Mean To Me? An essay Michael Palmer - Summerset by the Park To find Matariki, look to the northeast horizon before sunrise. Then, search for the distinct line of stars that forms Tautoru, (Orion’s belt). Keep moving your gaze north of these three stars until you see a cluster of tiny stars that are roughly as wide as Tautoru is long. These are the Matariki stars. If you are lucky enough to live in a part of Aotearoa where one can actually see the stars in the night sky, which we at Summerset by the Park are not, this is what you might see.

Matariki is said to be a shortened version of Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea, or "the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea". According to Māori mythology, Tāwhirimātea, god of wind and weather, was enraged by the separation of heaven and earth – his parents, Ranginui and Papatūānuku. Defeated in battle by his brother, Tāwhirimātea fled to the sky to live with Ranginui, but in his anger he first plucked out his eyes as a gesture of contempt towards his siblings, and flung them into the sky, where they remain, stuck to his father's chest. In Māori tradition the unpredictability of the winds is blamed on Tāwhitimātea's blindness. Historically, the stars were closely tied to planting, harvesting and hunting. If the stars appeared clear and bright, it signified an abundant season ahead.

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The occasion is for me an annual reminder of dealing with a traumatic family event in 2005, at about the same time that I first became aware of the meaning and significance of Matariki. It symbolises the situation of so many minority populations, who have been overwhelmed by an invading foreign entity, not just here in Aotearoa, but almost everywhere that one looks on the surface of the globe, and the tolerant spirit of those most affected who spend generations attempting to gain redress for their mistreatment by the invader. There are many obvious candidates for that undeserved situation, including such populations as the Rohingya in Myanmar, Australian Aboriginals, North American First Nations, and some less obvious, such as the Scottish nation under the thumb of the British Crown, the many tribal groups crushed by the Zulu nation in the 19th century, who were in turn crushed by the British, the Mapuche and others in Argentina, Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great, not to mention China walking into Tibet in recent memory. I am Scottish by descent, but English by birth, and have grown to realise how badly the English have behaved over the last 200 years - remember how Churchill sent the colonial troops (Anzacs) into Gallipoli to avoid sending English troops into near certain death? I am overjoyed to have a Government that recognises the importance of Matariki to its original inhabitants, and that has therefore seen fit to establish Matariki as a National Public Holiday.

Colleen Holland - Summerset at Avonhead Wherever you live Just look for the stars (and the moon) First risings of Matariki Hoping for many years of health & happiness at Summerset village.

Matariki 2022 Hope of spring in winter cold Horizon stars the old's forebode Hone and John hold hands together Warm their hearts in frosty weather. The old men weep for their lost youth Misspent acts now veiled in truth. Smell the ocean's salty breeze See it sparkling through the trees. Cold and flu may do their worst But blossoms for our flower beds burst. Red clouds light up a sunrise sky Nature's palate to inspire. Thanks for power to keep alive Thank god who helps us to survive.

Louise Vercoe - Summerset by the Sea

What does Matariki mean to me? An essay I’ve often thought of the similarity between Māori and the Scots. Both peoples have chiefs or lairds. Māori have tribes, the Scots have clans. Māori make capes and skirts from flax. The designs of which are unique. And the Scots are famous for their tartan kilts. Also, both Matariki and Hogmanay, or New Years Day, occur in the winter in both hemispheres. Matariki is the name given to the cluster of nine stars shining brightly at this time of year. The month of June, and the Scottish city of Aberdeen is known for its Northern Lights! So, Matariki means to me memories of a joyous time going back to my childhood. Even World War II didn’t stop the enjoyment. My dad was Scottish, my mum from Northumbria, just near the English/Scottish border. Every Hogmanay or New Year’s Eve, my mum and dad held a party. An open house. They hosted friends, neighbours, even strangers. Mum baked cakes, did finger food and huge cottage pies. Dad bought drinks like lemonade, wine and naturally, whiskey. The highlight from 11.55pm on the 31st December was the countdown to midnight. As the clock chimed 12 o’clock, a dark haired guest (traditionally – must have dark hair) knocked on the front door and was admitted bearing a lump of coal and a bottle of whiskey. He was our first foot – an honoured gent as he called out “Lang man your lum reek”. In English – “Long may your chimney smoke” meaning a smoking chimney means a warm glowing fire, lit with huge blocks of tyneside coal which glistened like black diamond. Everyone had a wee dram of whiskey and then intertwined hands in a circle – singing the immortal words of Robbie Burns – “Should auld acquaintance be forgot…” And ending with “We’ll take a cup of kindness yet – for the sake of auld lang syne” – such were my memories.

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I would love to hear legends surrounding Matariki. There must be many stories from the old folks. My thoughts regarding the cluster of stars go to the arrival of Kupe with his colleagues, as his wife cried out Aotearoa – the land of the long white cloud - as they drew close to shore, exhausted from that long journey across the Pacific Ocean to become a new nation, full of hope, starting a new life which is the essence of Matariki but not forgetting the lessons of the past. Surely, that’s what Matariki means!

Betty Robins - Summerset at the Course

“To me, Matariki means an acknowledgement of Maori culture and historical knowledge through vocal record of past history.” Margaret Young - Summerset on Cavendish

Matariki Preparations For the month of June we have dedicated ourselves to celebrating Matariki in the village with lots of creativity from our residents. Some of our ladies have been gathering and foraging to produce some amazing dried arrangements for our temp rec centre and our men have made a stunning piece to go up for our Matariki dinner we are hosting on the 23rd. Residents are making a dish to bring along and share. There will be a memorial poem remembering those who have passed in our village, a releasing of lanterns and a musical number/dance by staff to celebrate the future.

Summerset Palms Residents

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this special booklet.