The Māori New Year is a time to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate. While Matariki is widely recognised, many iwi in the Ruapehu, Whanganui, and Taranaki regions look to Puanga — the star Rigel — to mark the beginning of the year. This season, Matariki mā Puanga highlights these regional traditions, with Ngāti Rangi hosting the national hautapu ceremony at the foot of Mt Ruapehu.
Takina Puanga
Ko Puanga kei runga
Ko Puanga e Rangi
Tākina mai te ara o Puanganui-o-te-rangi
Tākina ngā pou o te tau
Ki te whai ao, ki te ao mārama
As Puanga
rises
Let Puanga
elevate us
Let Puanga be
noted in the heavens
Let us recite
the great celestial path of Puanga
Let us recite
the ceremonies throughout the year
With clarity
and intention
In many parts of Aotearoa, the Māori New Year is celebrated with the rising of Matariki, a cluster of stars known globally as the Pleiades. However, for iwi and hapū along the west coast — including those from Taranaki, Whanganui, Ruapehu and Rangitīkei — the new year begins with the appearance of Puanga, the star known internationally as Rigel, part of the Orion constellation.
Why Puanga? In these regions, Matariki can be difficult to see clearly due to the local landscape and horizon lines. Instead of looking for Matariki, these iwi look to Puanga, the next bright star to rise in the eastern sky ahead of the sun in late autumn and early winter. Puanga appears just above Matariki and Tautoru (the three stars of Orion’s Belt) in the night sky.
It’s important to note that this isn’t a rejection of Matariki. Many of these iwi still acknowledge Matariki and the wider constellation in their oral histories and cultural traditions — but Puanga takes precedence as the seasonal marker of renewal and reflection.
Here in the Ruapehu and Whanganui regions, observing Puanga is a deeply meaningful way to honour the Māori New Year. It’s a time for remembrance, for celebrating the present, and for looking ahead with purpose and connection to the land, sky, and people.
For more information about these constellations, explore the links below:
In 2022, Matariki was officially recognised as a public holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand — a significant step in acknowledging the Māori New Year and the importance of Te Ao Māori (the Māori world view) in our national identity. This annual mid-winter celebration honours the indigenous people of Aotearoa and their deep connection to the land, sky, and natural cycles.
Each year, the Matariki public holiday carries a unique theme that guides how we reflect, celebrate, and look ahead. These themes are grounded in mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and offer all New Zealanders an opportunity to come together — to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. Whether communities look to Matariki or Puanga, the essence of the celebration remains the same: a time of renewal, connection, and shared purpose.
This year’s theme, Matariki mā Puanga, celebrates the richness of Aotearoa’s diverse traditions and honours the iwi and hapū who observe Puanga as the marker of the Māori New Year. Fittingly, the national hautapu ceremony will be hosted by Ngāti Rangi at the base of Mt Ruapehu.
Ngāti Rangi will hold the annual Maunga Karakia on Monday 9 June at Tūroa Ski Area, weather permitting. This important kaupapa is an opportunity for whānau and the wider community to come together in acknowledgment of the maunga through karakia and connection.
As in previous years, registrations will be required to help manage numbers and coordinate transport to the site. Further details, including timing and how to register, will be shared on their Facebook page soon.
