Matariki - Drama 2018 Term 2

Matariki

What is Matariki?

Matariki is the Maori new year. It's also the Maori name for a group of seven stars/seven sisters. The names of the stars are Ururangi, Tupua-rangi, Tupua-nuku, Waita, Waiti, Matariki, and Wai-puna-rangi. Some people think that Matariki is the mother star and the other six are the daughters. Others think that Matariki are Tawhirimatea's (the god of wind) eyes. When Papatuanuku (earth mother) and Ranginui (sky father) were separated Tawhirimatea became angry and tore out his eyes throwing them up to the heavens. 

Matariki also means two things, Mata-Riki meaning tiny eyes, and Mata-Ariki meaning eyes of God.

Matariki is usually celebrated on the last few days of May. Some celebrate it the day the moon rises and some the day after. Celebrations can last up to three days.

Aotearoa - Stan Walker - ft, Ria Hall, Troy Kingi, Maisey Rika 

Link to the song

This song, Aotearoa, is sung by the artists above. Stan Walker decided to release his first song completely in Maori to celebrate the Maori Language Week. I like this song because it's in Maori and I have Maori in me so it's a special song in my opinion. I like the music video too because people from all over Aotearoa are working together to spell out the word Aotearoa on the beach. 

Some lyrics from the song-

Chorus-

Nō tawhiti, nō tata
Nō te whenua o te Atua tātou
Ahakoa nō hea mai koe
Ka whawhai tonu mātou mōu

Translation-

No matter if you're near or far

We come from the land of God

No matter where you belong

We fight for your freedom.