Matariki Dictogloss

This week Miss Paton read us a story about Matariki and we had to take notes. This is my reconstructed version of the text Miss Paton read out.

Matariki Dictogloss

What is Matariki?

Matariki is the Maori New Year and it is rich with tradition. Matariki is a name for a group of
seven stars known as the Pleiades cluster. Some people think as Matariki as a mother and
six daughters, often known as seven sisters. Ranganui Sky Father and Papatuanuku Earth
Mother were separated by their children the God of the wind, Tawhirimatea became angry and
he tour out his eyes and hurled them into the heavens.

Matariki means cluster of seven stars known as Pleiades star cluster. Mata Riki means little
eyes and Mata Ariki means eyes of God. A thousand stars make up Matariki. A constellation
of nine stars only make up the constellation. Seven stars can be seen with the naked eye. 

The seven stars names are: 

Alcyone-Matariki-eyes of Tawhirimatea, Atlas-Tupu-a-rangi-Sky Tohunga,

Electra-Waipuna-a-rangi-Sky Spring, Taygeta-waiti-Sweet water, Pleione-Tupu-a-nuku-Earth
Tohunga, Merope-ururangi-Entry to the heavens, and Maia-Waita-Sprinkle of water.

Matariki begins to rise in the last few days of May and this symbolizes the coming of the
Maori new year. Some people celebrate on the day the new moon rises or after the new moon
rises.

Matariki disappears in April and it signals to plant crops. It disappears in late autumn and
reappears in late May, or early June.

Maori used Matariki as a signal for when to plant their crops after a cold winter. If the stars
were clear and bright a nice season would come and planting in September would begin.
If the stars were hazy and dull a cold winter would come and the planting would be in October.