Celebrating the Māori New Year

Earlier this month, the New Zealand office came together to celebrate Matariki, a special time in the Māori calendar that marks the reappearance of the Matariki star cluster and the beginning of the Māori New Year.

While known as Matariki in Aotearoa New Zealand, this same star cluster is called Subaru in Japan, meaning "to unite" or "come together", and is recognised as the "Seven Sisters" in Greek mythology.

Jason Whatuira, Mather Solutions

Matariki is guided by three enduring themes:

• Remembering the past – honouring those who have passed on.

• Celebrating the present – giving thanks for life, whānau, community and the abundance around us.

• Looking to the future – setting intentions and aspirations for the year ahead.

Our celebration began with a kōrero from Jason Whatuira from Mather Solutions, who shared the history and significance of Matariki, followed by a hāngī lunch.

Jason explained that while Matariki celebrations today are larger and more widely embraced across Aotearoa than they once were, the heart of Matariki remains unchanged.

He reflected on the deeper meaning of Matariki, explaining that it does not exist in isolation but is part of a much wider system of relationships.

"Matariki reminds us that time was never simply measured by clocks or calendars. Our ancestors understood time through the heartbeat, the tides, the sun, the moon, the stars and the changing seasons. These natural rhythms remind us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves.

Matariki calls us to remember those who have gone before us, celebrate who we are today, and step into the future with intention. More than a cluster of stars, Matariki is a reminder of whakapapa – that everything exists in relationship. People have whakapapa, but so do the stars, the rivers, the forests, the birds and the land.

It reminds us that we are all connected and that we each have a responsibility to care for those relationships."

The celebration was a meaningful opportunity for the team to learn more about the significance of Matariki, share a meal together, and embrace the values of remembrance, gratitude, connection and hope that continue to sit at the heart of the Māori New Year.