Living by the Stars - Matariki Series

Episode One: Te Whānau Mārama
Māori referred to the celestial bodies, the sun, moon, planets and stars as Te Whānau Mārama, or The Family of Light. This episode looks at where the Matariki star cluster fits into Te Whānau Mārama.

Episode Two: He Tohu Mate
Towards the end of the Māori new year, the Matariki star cluster disappears from the night sky for about a month. Our tīpuna believed that Matariki's disappearance was preparing our loved ones who had passed away during the year.

Episode Three: Maramataka ā-whetū
The Māori months are named after the stars. Different stars signal which month we are in, and the moon phases signal the individual days making up the month. 

Episode Four: Te Rewanga ā-maru o Matariki
During the month of Piripi in the Tangaroa moon phase, Māori look to the east of the early morning horizon to spot Matariki's new rising, signalling the new year's arrival. 

Episode Five: Te Tikanga o Matariki
Of all the Atua present when Ranginui was split from Papatūānuku, only Tāwhirimātea disagreed. This episode looks to Matariki to tell the story of the atua of winds and weather. 

Episode Six: Pōhutukawa
When most think of Pōhutukawa, they think of the red flowering tree that grows beside the ocean. But this episode looks at the star of Matariki named Pōhutukawa.

Episode Seven: Tupuānuku & Tupuārangi
The stars Tupuānuku and Tupuārangi were known by our ancestors as the food-bringing stars, whetū heri kai mai. They were said to be the source of the vitality provided by the food. 

Episode Eight: Waitī & Waitā
When Matariki is positioned just above the water's horizon, it was said to influence the oceans and floodwaters. Māori could look to that stars Waitī and Waitā to gauge expectations for certain food sources in the coming year.

Episode Nine: Waipunarangi and Ururangi
Our ancestors looked to Matariki for connection to the elements. The stars Waipunarangi and Ururangi could be looked at to forecast the weather patterns for the year ahead.

Episode 10: Hiwaiterangi 
This episode looks at one of the youngest and sacred stars within the Matariki star cluster: Hiwaiterangi, the star to send wishes and aspirations for the future.

Episode 11: Matariki me āna Tamariki
This episode focuses on Matariki, the mother of the eight celestial children that make up Te Huihui o Matariki. Placed in the centre, she guides her children across the night sky.

Episode 12: Matariki me Puanga
For some, the rising of the star Puanga (Rigel) is the true marker of the Māori new year. For some rohe this is the case, while other rohe follow a different marker of the new year. 

Episode 13: Matariki me te Rongoā
How did our Māori ancestors deal with health and sickness? This episode looks at Matariki's role in traditional Māori medicine (rongoā). 

Episode 14: Matariki me te Kai
Observations of the Matariki star cluster are deeply connected to our food. This episode explores how our kai is influenced by Matariki.  

Episode 15: Whāngai i te Hautapu
Each year when Matariki would rise again, atua would be fed with the practice of whāngai hau, a ceremonial offering of food to the gods. 

Episode 16: Ngā Hua o te Tau
Our ancestors knew how to carefully observe each of the stars of Matariki. A star's brightness, haziness or clarity all are signs we can tune into to predict the year ahead. 

Episode 17: Matariki i te ao o uki
Across the ancient world, the Pleiades (Matariki) cluster is a part of many indigenous traditions. This episode looks at the connections between other indigenous cultures looking up at the stars.

Episode 18: Matariki me te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa
This episode looks at Matariki's place within Polynesia, as a select group of stars used by navigators travelling throughout the islands. 

Episode 19: Matariki me te whakatere waka
Approximately 200 waka landed on the shores of Aotearoa when Māori first arrived. This episode looks at the celestial knowledge which made this voyage possible. 

Episode 20: Te Anamata o Matariki
This episode looks to the future of  Matariki, Matariki ki tua o ngā whetū, or a Matariki of endless possibilities.