Before the rivers flowed and the mountains rose, when the land of Aotearoa was still young, the stars spoke to the people of the earth. They danced in the sky like fires of the ancestors, whispering stories and guiding those below. Among them, seven stars formed a cluster so sacred that when they returned each year, the world paused to remember.
This is the story of Matariki the Seven Sisters and how they came to hold the soul of the seasons in their light.
The Stars are together
In the time of the old ones, there lived a wise tohunga named Rangiwhata. He was known across the island for his deep knowledge of the stars. Every night he sat outside his whare, carved with the bones of knowledge, and watched the sky speak. He had learned from his koro, who had learned from his, and so the stories of the heavens had never been broken.
One winter, the people noticed something strange. The crops had withered early, and the sea had grown restless. The fish that usually returned with the tide stayed hidden. The air felt hollow, as if something ancient was missing. Rangiwhata turned his eyes skyward, searching the heavens for an answer.
Then, on the coldest dawn, just before the sun rose, he saw them: seven stars clustered together in the northeast sky, glowing with a light unlike any other. They shimmered in hues of blue, gold, and white. The moment he saw them, his heart leapt.
“Matariki,” he whispered.
He called the people to gather. Around the sacred fire they came, wrapped in cloaks of woven flax, their breath rising in clouds. “These stars,” Rangiwhata told them, “are the daughters of Papatuanuku and Ranginui. They rise each year to remind us of the cycle of life. When Matariki returns, our ancestors walk the land.”
The people listened in silence.
The Stars Purpose
“They come to see how we have lived. To measure the work of our hands, the strength of our hearts, and the peace in our homes. If we have honored the land, the sea, and each other, the stars will shine bright, and the new year will begin with blessing.”
From that moment, Matariki became the sacred marker of the Māori year.
Each of the stars carried a purpose.
Tupuānuku looked after all things that grow in the ground. Tupuārangi watched over the birds and food from the sky. Waitī guarded the freshwater streams and creatures within. Waitā cared for the ocean and its abundance. Waipuna-ā-rangi carried the rains, and Ururangi controlled the winds. At the center was Matariki herself, the mother star, who held the well-being of people and connected them to their ancestors.
That year, the people began to prepare for the new rising. They cleaned their villages, shared food with those in need, and gathered the names of those who had passed. On the morning of the Matariki rising, they climbed the nearest mountain, stood in silence, and called the names into the wind.
With each name spoken, a gentle breeze stirred, and the stars pulsed brighter. The people wept, not in sorrow, but in deep remembrance. The ancestors had heard them.
Then the tohunga spoke a karakia, giving thanks for the return of the stars. Smoke rose from the fire into the sky, carrying their voices upward. In that moment, the land felt whole again. The sea quieted. The air warmed. The people felt seen.
From then on, Matariki was not just a cluster of stars. It became a sacred time of reflection, renewal, and remembrance. Each year when the seven stars returned, the people honored their past, measured their present, and planned for the future.
To this day, when Matariki rises above Aotearoa, the people gather once more. They share kai, sing waiata, remember those who came before, and speak dreams aloud. Because Matariki is not only the guide of the seasons it is the breath of the ancestors returned.
Moral of the Tale
This story reminds us of the sacred link between the past and the present. Through Matariki, the ancestors return not to judge, but to guide. It teaches that every year is a chance to reflect, restore, and remember who we are and where we come from. In honoring the stars, we honor our roots, our families, and the land that holds us.
Knowledge Check
- What is the moral of the folktale “The Seven Stars of Matariki”?
The story teaches that remembrance and renewal are essential. It reminds us to honor the past and live with intention for the future. - What cultural group does the tale “The Seven Stars of Matariki” come from?
This folktale originates from the Māori tradition in Oceania. - Why did Rangiwhata call the people to gather?
In the tale, Rangiwhata called the people to witness the return of Matariki and remind them that their ancestors had returned to guide and bless the new year. - How does the folktale “The Seven Stars of Matariki” explain the meaning of the star cluster?
The story offers a traditional explanation for why the Matariki cluster represents different aspects of life, such as crops, rain, wind, and human well-being. - Is “The Seven Stars of Matariki” considered a trickster tale, ghost story, or moral fable?
“The Seven Stars of Matariki” is a moral fable and seasonal story rooted in spiritual connection, reflection, and ancestral wisdom. - How is this folktale relevant to modern readers?
The message of “The Seven Stars of Matariki” remains relevant as it encourages reflection, community, and honoring heritage, values that are timeless in any era.
Origin: This folktale comes from the oral tradition of the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand).
