The encouragement for some Christians in New Zealand to embrace Matariki —the Māori New Year—stems from a desire to engage meaningfully with Aotearoa’s bicultural identity while remaining faithful to Christian convictions.
In 2025, the Matariki public holiday in New Zealand was observed on Friday, 20 June.
Because Matariki follows the Māori lunar calendar and the rising of the Pleiades star cluster, the date shifts each year but always falls in June or July. It’s a time for remembrance, reflection, and renewal, much like the New Year celebrations of other cultures.
Why Matariki Matters
In Maori culture Matariki marks the rising of the Pleiades star cluster and signals a time of remembrance, gratitude, and renewal. It’s a season for:
- Honoring those who’ve passed
- Giving thanks for the harvest
- Reflecting on the past and looking to the future
- Gathering with whānau (family) in unity
These themes resonate deeply with Christian values like thanksgiving, remembrance, and hope.
Christian Engagement
Some Christian leaders and theologians see Matariki as an opportunity to:
- Celebrate God as Creator: The stars, including Matariki (Pleiades), are mentioned in Scripture (e.g., Amos 5:8, Job 38:31) as part of God’s handiwork.
- Build cultural bridges: Embracing Matariki respectfully can affirm Māori identity and foster reconciliation in a post-colonial context.
- Create contextual liturgies: Some churches are developing Matariki-themed worship that honors God while acknowledging the season’s significance.
Points of Caution
Not all Christians are comfortable with Matariki. Concerns include:
- Its traditional spiritual roots, where stars were seen as atua (spiritual beings) and received offerings and karakia (prayers).
- The First Commandment warning against worshiping other gods.
However, many Māori Christians navigate this by directing all worship and thanksgiving to God alone, seeing Matariki as a cultural—not spiritual—marker.
In Summary
Christians in AoNZ are being invited to embrace Matariki not as a compromise of faith, but as a contextual expression of gratitude and remembrance—a way to honor both God and the cultural rhythms of the land they inhabit.
In 2025, the Matariki public holiday in New Zealand was observed on Friday, 20 June.
Because Matariki follows the Māori lunar calendar and the rising of the Pleiades star cluster, the date shifts each year but always falls in June or July. It’s a time for remembrance, reflection, and renewal, much like the New Year celebrations of other cultures.
Why Matariki Matters
In Maori culture Matariki marks the rising of the Pleiades star cluster and signals a time of remembrance, gratitude, and renewal. It’s a season for:
- Honoring those who’ve passed
- Giving thanks for the harvest
- Reflecting on the past and looking to the future
- Gathering with whānau (family) in unity
These themes resonate deeply with Christian values like thanksgiving, remembrance, and hope.
Christian Engagement
Some Christian leaders and theologians see Matariki as an opportunity to:
- Celebrate God as Creator: The stars, including Matariki (Pleiades), are mentioned in Scripture (e.g., Amos 5:8, Job 38:31) as part of God’s handiwork.
- Build cultural bridges: Embracing Matariki respectfully can affirm Māori identity and foster reconciliation in a post-colonial context.
- Create contextual liturgies: Some churches are developing Matariki-themed worship that honors God while acknowledging the season’s significance.
Points of Caution
Not all Christians are comfortable with Matariki. Concerns include:
- Its traditional spiritual roots, where stars were seen as atua (spiritual beings) and received offerings and karakia (prayers).
- The First Commandment warning against worshiping other gods.
However, many Māori Christians navigate this by directing all worship and thanksgiving to God alone, seeing Matariki as a cultural—not spiritual—marker.
In Summary
Christians in AoNZ are being invited to embrace Matariki not as a compromise of faith, but as a contextual expression of gratitude and remembrance—a way to honor both God and the cultural rhythms of the land they inhabit.
