Did you know your location in the country can determine which star marks the Māori new year? Since Matariki is the name of the public holiday, you may not be aware that another new year star exists, but it does.
Puanga (Rigel), or Puaka as Māori in Te Waipounamu-South Island call it, is one of the brightest stars in our sky.
Located "above" the constellation known as Tautoru, or Orion’s Belt (the three stars that make up the bottom of ‘the Pot’), Puanga marks the new year for many Māori.
Why Puanga?
Iwi and hapū from the west coast of Northland, Taranaki, Whanganui and Rangitīkei, parts of Wellington, and the South Island use Puanga/Puaka to mark the new year, and their location has a lot to do with it.
Matariki rises in the pre-dawn above the eastern horizon which means it’s hidden from view for those on the west with mountainous land in between.
In saying that, visibility isn’t the only factor behind why some iwi observe Puanga.
There are places in these areas where both stars appear, and according to the Puanganui website, the star is important because of its role as a weather indicator and its prominence in the sky.
When and where can you see Puanga?
“Puaka can be seen in various parts of the sky throughout the year,” said Kāi (Ngāi) Tahu researcher and astronomer Victoria Campbell.
“During winter Puaka rises in the pre-dawn sky (east). During summer Puaka can be seen in our night sky (look north). During autumn Puaka can be seen in our night sky, to the west as the sun is setting.”
Che Wilson, who has been researching narratives from the perspective of iwi in Taranaki, Whanganui and Rangitīkei (collectively known as Te Taiuru), said Puanga forms part of a bigger picture.
“It is the first of the group of stars as part of Te Waka o Rangi [constellation]. With Matariki to the left – far left – and Tautoru and Puanga to the right, it's the first one to rise in the horizon every night or every morning.”
When asked to explain what marks the new year if Puanga can be seen throughout, Campbell said it depends on a number of factors including the season, the sun, the moon, and the position of other stars coming into alignment.
In 2022, maramataka expert and astronomer Rereata Makiha told Breakfast that where he comes from in the Hokianga in Northland, Puanga is paired with another star.
“Our stars that mark our new year in the west – there are two of them. One of them is Rehua-Antares, setting in the west, at the same time as Puanga-Rigel, rising at about 110 degrees in the east. So those were the stars we grew up with.”
What can Puanga tell us?
For Kāi Tahu in the South Island, Puaka is a revered star associated with the weather, season, and kai, said Campbell.
“When Puaka is setting in the evening sky (to the west) the frost is due or happening, so this information is incredibly important. When Puaka rises in the pre-dawn sky (in the east) we are in winter. Puaka also reminds us that spring is coming. So Puaka is considered a seasonal marker.”
Similarly, for Te Taiuru, Wilson said they look to Puanga to help predict the weather.
“It gives us a better read on the impact of the westerly wind which can smash some of us, especially our relations closer to the coast.”
What traditions take place during Puanga?
Wilson said Te Taiuru holds two ceremonies during this time.
Te Maru o Te Tau is a hautuku ceremony held at sunset to farewell passed loved ones. It’s also a time to reflect on the past year and let go of any challenges.
Te Tahi o Te Tau is a hautapu ceremony that takes place at pre-dawn to welcome in the new year.
The timing of when to hold these ceremonies are informed by particular moon phases according to the maramataka.
Ngāi Tahu have similar traditions, acknowledging the end of season, preparing for the next, gathering and sharing kai, sharing kōrero and acknowledging their environment.
Is Matariki still celebrated too?
Campbell said although the iwi celebrates Puaka, they also celebrate Matariki.
“Despite Matariki being a star cluster and separate to the Puaka stars, more broadly speaking, Puaka and Matariki form part of a greater constellation, from a Māori perspective.”
Wilson agrees: “It's not that we don’t follow Matariki, but we align ourselves with Puanga because it gives us a better read, though you will see that we still have narratives about Matariki, but Puanga is our principal focus.”
Note: The use of Ngāi/Kāi Tahu and Puanga/Puaka in this article reflects differences in dialect where Ngāi/Kāi Tahu use ‘k’ in place of ‘ng’.
Glossary
Matariki – the Pleiades
Puanga/Puaka – Rigel
Te Taiuru – collective group made up of iwi from Taranaki, Whanganui and Rangitīkei in relation to reviving Puanga narratives and traditions
Tautoru – the three stars that make up Orion’s Belt
maramataka – Māori lunar calendar
Rehua – Antares
hautuku – ceremony held at sunset to farewell loved ones and let go of past challenges
hautapu – ceremony held at pre-dawn to welcome in the new year
kōrero – talk, discussion
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