Māori New Year marked by Matariki mā Puanga

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has announced "Matariki mā Puanga" as the theme for Matariki 2025, acknowledging the diverse traditions across Aotearoa.

Some iwi mark the Māori New Year by observing Matariki, while others honour the star Puanga.

Puanga is celebrated by iwi in locations where Matariki is not clearly visible, including iwi from Whanganui, Taranaki, parts of Te Tai Tokerau and parts of the Te Wai Pounamu.

Puanga expert Che Wilson (Ngāti Rangi-Whanganui, Tūwharetoa, Mōkai Pātea, Ngāti Apa, Ngā Rauru) says the theme shows “we are not all the same” and encourages people to value the distinctive customs observed throughout Aotearoa.

“[It is important] to acknowledge there are different traditions around the country, where some will acknowledge Matariki and some will acknowledge Puanga,” he says.

“Matariki mā Puanga is a chance to share with the nation, who understand a lot about Matariki, some Puanga traditions this year.”

Puanga differs from Matariki in several ways: it involves observing one star rather than a cluster, offerings are made to four atua instead of four stars during a hautapu ceremony which has a longstanding history of including wahine.

The theme will guide this year’s Māori New Year events, including the nationally broadcast hautapu ceremony to be held by Ngāti Rangi at the base of Ruapehu Maunga.

Wilson says despite regional variations surrounding the Māori New Year, the essence of the ceremonies and celebrations is alike.

Matariki and Puanga both inspire periods of reflection, celebration, preparation and learning.

“I think the main thing is to be true to our tradition . . . People will see that even though there's difference, there's still a lot of similarities.”

Gina Blackburn, from Taranaki, says Puanga has attributes reflective of who she is as an uri (descendent) of Ngāti Mutunga and Te Atiawa.

“Puanga signals the remembrance and the strength that we have as Māori to hold tūturu to the tikanga and kawa that's been handed down from our tupuna to live good lives,” she says.

“We have wānanga, we go to our ceremonies, have a chance to have our hautapu and release the names of those that we love into the ao.

"It’s a really cool opportunity to spend time intentionally with one another.”

A report by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage found 63 pern cent of New Zealanders celebrated Matariki in 2024, compared to 60 per cent in 2023.

Wilson says Matariki and Puanga celebrations will continue to increase.

There are various astronomical guided ceremonies conducted throughout the entire lunar calendar that Wilson believes more people will become aware of.

“As we grow, things will be beautiful,” he says.

The theme’s name was inspired by Atutahi mā Rehua, stars closely linked with the spring-through-autumn period.