Mānawatia a Matariki

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars that rises in midwinter and for many Māori heralds the start of the new year. In Japanese, this constellation asterism is known as Subaru, and I learned it as the Seven Sisters or the Pleiades. It was already too light when I took this picture, but the stars in question are over there somewhere.

Matariki is also the newest public holiday in the NZ calendar, and we celebrated it this year on Friday the 28th of June.

I don’t know a lot about the cultural practices associated with Matariki, other than the vague idea that you’re supposed to reflect on the old year, flush out the bad stuff, and then look ahead to the new year refreshed and invigorated. Fair enough, that seems like a good plan!

I did my bit for marking the annual change this year. I finished my job the day before (thanks for nothing, National Party government). And after I had a bracing sunrise swim, we hauled the first carload of stuff over to the new house… one down, quite a few to go!

The big moving truck comes on Monday. The job search starts in earnest on Tuesday.

Happy New Year! Manawatia a Matariki! Bring it on!