1 February 2021
Matariki Advisory Group
Matariki dates for public holiday from 2022
Overview
The predawn rising of Matariki in the mid-winter sky marks the beginning of the Māori New
Year, and for many Māori communities it ushers in a period of ceremony and celebration.
It’s appearance in the Eastern sky during the coldest phase of the year heralds the changing of
the seasons and is a time of remembrance, joy and peace. In essence the celebration focuses
on 3 major themes,
1: remembering those who have passed since the last rising of Matariki
2: celebrating the present with family and friends, especially with feasting and festivities
3: planning and preparing for the new season
Matariki has a strong association with the environment, wellbeing, merriment and encourages
all people to reflect on the past, while preparing for the future.
Establishing a date
There are a number of beliefs, ideas and applications associated with the timing of Matariki
and the celebration of the Māori New Year. These variations are based on unique regional
and tribal knowledge bases where localised environmental factors and perceptions inform the
appropriate New Year period of time. For some iwi, Matariki is replaced by Puanga (Rigel)
as the major maker of the New Year, and the lunar phases, lunar months and locational
specific environmental factors all feed into determining when the celebration period begins
and how long it lasts.
An additional issue in determining an appropriate period for a Matariki celebration is that our
modern society adheres to a Gregorian solar calendar year, which is 365.25 days long, and
aligns with the procession of the earth around the sun. This is different to a Maori calendar
year, which for the most part is a stellar lunar system that is only 354 days long. This means
there is an 11-day difference between a solar year and a lunar year. Therefore, Maori used a
system of intercalation, applying an additional month every 3 years or so to the calendar to
reconcile the difference between the solar year and the lunar year. Therefore, in order to
identify an actual date for a national celebration, elements of the multifaceted Maori time
keeping system will have to be applied to our modern solar year and its associated calendar.
These difficulties aside, there are a number of common principles and approaches that are
universal in identifying the correct time to celebrate the Māori New Year.
1: The beginning of the New Year occurs in mid-winter
2: It is marked by the heliacal rising of a star
3: It is connected to the lunar month and the lunar phases
4: The celebration period lasts for an extended period of time as is not restricted to a
single day
5: It involves culturally important ceremonies and celebrations
Based on the factors listed above and the various methods shown in the tables within this
report, the most appropriate date for a Matariki holiday is mid-winter, specifically between
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June and July when both Matariki and Puanga are visible in the morning sky. More work
needs to be done to determine the actual date, but as seen in the workings within the tables of
this report, a Matariki holiday can be aligned to either a Monday or a Friday.
Considerations
There are some risks in determining a universal date for Matariki and the celebration of the
Māori New Year.
The difference in the observation of the New Year based on tribe and region might be
a factor. Some groups and areas may disagree with the dates preferring to follow an
alternative approach.
There are employment related costs with these dates that will impact on the economy
This holiday date will have an impact of schools and timetables
There may be a lack of understanding from a large part of the population about the
purpose and meaning of this holiday, especially in regards to the shifting of the dates
These possible risks are not insurmountable, and most have a reasonably simple solution. In
regards to the tribal and regional variations in the Māori calendar, the simple fact is that there
is not a single date that will appease everyone. However, the most crucial point is that we
celebrate this event during mid-winter once Matariki and Puanga have become visible in the
morning sky. Individuals and groups who have a more detailed approach to determining their
unique celebration period are still able to acknowledge the Māori New Year in their own
way. However, for the purpose of a national holiday that is observed by everyone, the mid-
winter period in association with the viewing of the stars is the most generically accepted
approach. Therefore, this would place the celebration between June and July.
Employment related costs and timetabling for schools are issues that can be address once the
actual dates have been confirmed.
An extensive educational programme at both national and regional levels is needed to support
the establishment of a date, so the general public are aware of the methods used to calculate
the celebration period. This should also be supported by a consultation process to help
embed the dates to be embedded into the public ethos.
Consultation and education
A significant part of this process will be consultation and education, and this will need to take
place at both national and regional levels. Stakeholders will need to be informed about the
dates of the holiday and be given an opportunity to understand how it will impact on them.
Key national and regional organisations and groups will be identified and invited to be part of
the consultation process. Members of the Matariki advisory committee will take the lead in
identifying and interacting with stakeholders within their own regions, and at times will be
asked to consult with other stakeholders at a national level.
The development of quality educational resources for both the general public and schools will
be crucial in disseminating information regarding the dates and the associated Matariki
celebrations. Resources will have to be both national and regional and support the
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1 February 2021
embedding of the holiday into the conscience of the country. There is a need for investment
into mātauranga Māori experts to develop resources in this space.
Additional considerations
A midwinter holiday between June and July will coincide with our existing public
holiday format. Currently there are no public holidays from Queens Birthday (1st
Monday in June), to Labour Day, (the last Monday in October), a period of
approximately 5 months.
The shifting of the actual Matariki holiday date from year to year is similar to our
modern approach to Easter, which is determined by the first Sunday following the full
moon that occurs on or just after the spring equinox. This is an excellent example of
how a traditional lunar calendar event can be incorporated into our modern solar
calendar.
Methodologies for determining a date
The following are a set of methodologies connected to identifying Matariki and Māori New
Year period. Each method has an attached table showing the correct lunar date when the
celebration is observed and the closest Monday and Friday to this period. It is important to
note that these dates are indicative at this stage. The Māori New Year occurs between June
and July every year, however more discussion with the Matariki advisory group needs to
occur before the actual dates can be confirmed.
Method 1: Tangaroa of Pipiri
One of the most well-known and best recorded approaches to the timing of the Māori New
Year celebrates Matariki during the lunar month of Pipiri, when the moon is in the Tangaroa
phase. Tangaroa is not a single phase but rather a period of the lunar calendar that can be 2, 3
or even 4 days long depending on the regional maramataka that is being followed. The table
below identifies the Tangaroa lunar phases of the Pipiri month, and the closest Monday and
Friday to this period.
Year
Lunar date
Monday
Friday
2022
21 – 24 June
20 June
24 June
2023
10 – 13 July
10 July
14 July
2024
29 June – 2 July
1 July
28 June
2025
19 – 22 June
16 June
20 June
2026
8 – 11 July
6 July
10 July
2027
27 – 30 June
28 June
25 June
2028
15 – 18 July
17 July
14 July
2029
4 – 7 July
2 July
6 July
2030
23 – 26 June
24 June
21 June
2031
11 – 14 July
14 July
11 July
2032
30 June – 2 July
28 June
2 July
2033
20 – 23 June
20 June
24 June
2034
9 – 12 July
10 July
7 July
2035
29 June – 1 July
2 July
29 June
2036
17 – 20 July
18 July
21 July
2037
6 – 9 July
6 July
10 July
2038
25 – 28 June
28 June
25 June
3
1 February 2021
2039
13 – 16 July
11 July
15 July
2040
1 – 4 July
2 July
6 July
2041
21 – 24 July
22 July
19 July
2042
10 – 14 July
14 July
11 July
2043
30 June – 3 July
29 June
3 July
2044
19 - 22 June
20 June
24 June
2045
7 – 10 July
10 July
7 July
Method 2: Winter solstice
One approach has been to align Matariki and the Māori New Year to the winter solstice. The
following table shows the winter solstice dates and the Mondays and Fridays close to this
date.
Year
Winter Solstice
Monday
Friday
2022
21 June
20 June
17 June
2023
22 June
26 June
23 June
2024
21 June
24 June
21 June
2025
21 June
23 June
20 June
2026
21 June
22 June
19 June
2027
22 June
21 June
18 June
2028
21 June
19 June
23 June
2029
21 June
18 June
22 June
2030
21 June
24 June
21 June
2031
22 June
23 June
20 June
2032
21 June
21 June
18 June
2033
21 June
20 June
17 June
2034
21 June
19 June
23 June
2035
22 June
25 June
22 June
2036
21 June
23 June
20 June
2037
21 June
22 June
19 June
2038
21 June
21 June
18 June
2039
21 June
20 June
24 June
2040
21 June
18 June
22 June
2041
21 June
24 June
21 June
2042
21 June
23 June
20 June
2043
21 June
22 June
19 June
2044
21 June
20 June
24 June
2045
21 June
19 June
23 June
Method 3: Matariki and the New Moon
In this particular method the Matariki celebration begins with the New Moon close to the
heliacal rising of the star cluster. This approach states that Matariki first appears just before
the sunrise when the constellation of Te waka o Tamarereti aligns itself across the southern
horizon in mid-June, as viewed from the East Coast. One point to note is that for many of the
following dates Matariki is not visible in the morning sky.
Year
New Moon
Monday
Friday
2022
31 May
30 May
3 June
2023
19 June
19 June
16 June
4
1 February 2021
2024
8 June
10 June
7 June
2025
28 May
26 May
30 May
2026
16 June
15 June
19 June
2027
6 June
7 June
4 June
2028
25 May
29 May
26 May
2029
13 June
11 June
15 June
2030
2 June
3 June
31 May
2031
21 June
23 June
20 June
2032
9 June
7 June
11 June
2033
29 May
30 May
27 May
2034
17 June
16 June
19 June
2035
7 June
8 June
11 June
2036
27 May
23 May
26 May
2037
15 June
15 June
12 June
2038
4 June
7 June
4 June
2039
23 June
24 June
27 June
2040
11 June
11 June
8 June
2041
31 May
3 June
31 May
2042
19 June
20 June
23 June
2043
8 June
8 June
5 June
2044
28 May
30 May
27 May
2045
16 June
16 June
19 June
Method 4: Puanga
Puanga is the star Rigel, and for some tribes its heliacal rising marked the beginning of the
Māori New Year. Due to its position and brightness, Puanga rises earlier than Matariki as is
generally visible from early to mid-June. The follow 2 tables show the nearest full moon and
new moon phases after the rising of Puanga along with the nearest Monday and Friday. The
visibility of Puanga for these table is taken from Taranaki, one of the regions that use Puanga
as the marker of the Māori New Year
Puanga and New Moon
Year
Visibility of Puanga
New Moon
Monday
Friday
2022
2 June
29 June
27 June
24 June
2023
2 June
18 June
19 June
16 June
2024
2 June
7 June
10 June
7 June
2025
2 June
26 June
23 June
27 June
2026
2 June
15 June
15 June
12 June
2027
2 June
5 June
4 June
7 June
2028
2 June
23 June
26 June
23 June
2029
2 June
12 June
11 June
15 June
2030
2 June
1 July
1 July
28 June
2031
2 June
20 June
23 June
20 June
2032
2 June
8 June
7 June
11 June
2033
2 June
27 June
27 June
24 June
2034
2 June
17 June
19 June
16 June
2035
2 June
6 June
4 June
8 June
2036
2 June
24 June
23 June
27 June
5
1 February 2021
2037
2 June
14 June
15 June
12 June
2038
2 June
3 June
7 June
4 June
2039
2 June
22 June
20 June
24 June
2040
2 June
10 June
11 June
8 June
2041
2 June
29 June
1 July
28 June
2042
2 June
18 June
16 June
20 June
2043
2 June
8 June
8 June
5 June
2044
2 June
26 June
27 June
24 June
2045
2 June
15 June
12 June
16 June
Puanga and Full Moon
Year
Visibility of Puanga
Full Moon
Monday
Friday
2022
2 June
15 June
13 June
17 June
2023
2 June
4 June
5 June
9 June
2024
2 June
22 June
24 June
21 June
2025
2 June
12 June
16 June
13 June
2026
2 June
30 June
29 June
3 July
2027
2 June
19 June
21 June
18 June
2028
2 June
8 June
5 June
9 June
2029
2 June
26 June
25 June
29 June
2030
2 June
16 June
17 June
14 June
2031
2 June
6 June
9 June
6 June
2032
2 June
24 June
21 June
25 June
2033
2 June
13 June
13 June
17 June
2034
2 June
2 July
3 July
30 June
2035
2 June
21 June
18 June
22 June
2036
2 June
9 June
9 June
13 June
2037
2 June
28 June
29 June
26 June
2038
2 June
17 June
14 June
18 June
2039
2 June
7 June
6 June
10 June
2040
2 June
25 June
22 June
25 June
2041
2 June
15 June
14 June
17 June
2042
2 June
4 June
6 June
9 June
2043
2 June
23 June
22 June
26 June
2044
2 June
11 June
13 June
10 June
2045
2 June
30 June
3 July
30 June
Conclusion
Based on the various methods shown in the tables above, the most appropriate date for a
Matariki holiday is mid-winter, specifically between June to July when both Matariki and
Puanga are visible in the morning sky. More work needs to be done to determine the actual
date, but as seen in the workings above the holiday can be made to align with either a
Monday or a Friday.
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