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Matariki Tāpuapua: Pools of Traditional Knowledge and Currents of Change

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Everyday Knowledge, Education and Sustainable Futures

Part of the book series: Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects ((EDAP,volume 30))

Abstract

The study of astronomy has shaped cultures, societies, science and religion and influenced the evolution of all peoples. For Māori, the results of thousands of years of living with, studying and talking about the stars were woven into the language, culture and environment. Traditionally, Māori held a vast knowledge of astronomy, and their studies of the night sky played an important role in everyday life. This knowledge has, unfortunately, become less visible in the glare of contemporary European culture. However, in the last 20 years, there has been a renaissance in Māori astronomy and astronomical knowledge and, in particular, the revitalisation of the Māori lunar calendar (maramataka), ocean navigation and the Matariki (Pleiades) celebration. We focus on the celebration of Matariki and explore how this traditional practice is returning to play a significant role in the modern cultural landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Atutahi is seen by Māori as a tohunga or high priest. Because of his sacred nature , he was isolated from the community of stars so his tapu could be maintained. To this day Atutahi remains the brightest star outside of the Milky Way.

  2. 2.

    Within some tribes this canoe is also known as Uruao.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao, School of Māori and Pacific Development, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Hēmi Whaanga & Rangi Matamua

Authors
  1. Hēmi Whaanga
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  2. Rangi Matamua
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Correspondence to Hēmi Whaanga .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

    Margaret Robertson

  2. The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong

    Po Keung Eric Tsang

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Whaanga, H., Matamua, R. (2016). Matariki Tāpuapua: Pools of Traditional Knowledge and Currents of Change. In: Robertson, M., Tsang, P. (eds) Everyday Knowledge, Education and Sustainable Futures. Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol 30. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0216-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0216-8_5

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