Lynne Taylor

Matariki - Maori New Year

Here's the blog entry I made re Matariki - Maori New Year.

We've been having trouble with our site and this did a runner for a few days... but hey, it's back now!

The suggestion has recently been made that instead of celebrating Queen’s Birthday as a public holiday, we instead celebrate Maori New Year (Matariki). This occasion, like Queens Birthday, occurs in the middle of the year (and the middle of winter, down-under).

The Maori are the people who are indigenous to New Zealand. A Treaty, signed in 1840 between chiefs of the Maori iwi (tribes) and European leaders, declared Aotearoa New Zealand to be a bicultural land.

To me, this means it is very logical that if we celebrate a Pakeha (non-Maori, or - more commonly - European or Caucasian) New Year, then it makes good sense to also celebrate Maori New Year (Matariki). If we are truly bi-cultural then neither New Year date is more important than the other.

I was interested to read comments from the local community newspaper about the issue.

If you’re interested…

In “Voice of the People”, the Observer, asked people their views on the matter.

Two of the people mentioned the multi-cultural reality of New Zealand and stated that if the Maori had a holiday for their New Year, then that would be unfair as other ethnicities would question whether their New Year should also have a public holiday.

Yes, it is true that New Zealand is a multi-cultural country. But before that, and more than that, we are a bi-cultural nation; the birth certificate of our land committing us to equal recognition and importance placed on the heritage of both peoples, Maori and Pakeha.

Therefore we can celebrate Matariki without having to grant a public holiday for Diwali or Chinese New Year, or the celebrations of the many other cultures and ethnicities that make up our nation.

One of the above respondents went on to say that we already celebrate Waitangi Day. As if that is something of specific or sole importance to Maori. No! It is the day that we remember the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the document that gave birth to our bi-cultural nation.

Another respondent thought it was a good idea, but was concerned about the impact to employers of having to pay for another public holiday. Good on her for her concern. However the suggestion to replace Queens Birthday with Matariki seems to make that concern unnecessary.

And the last respondent thought we should do it. She was keen for us to add it as another public holidays as Australia has more than us. Hmm. Now there’s a good reason! (not!)

I am proud of New Zealand’s biculturalism. It is an important part of my identity. Yes, I am fully Pakeha. But I am also part of this land of Aotearoa New Zealand, where our forebears, our whakapapa, committed to living together as two peoples in one nation.

So, thrown out the Queen’s Birthday, and bring on Matariki! (I’m sure the Queen won’t mind!)

Having said all that (and it was rather a lot, wasn’t it!), I have two questions that remain, that I need to think about and investigate further.

Firstly, I need to confess that I don’t recollect having heard of Matariki before this suggestion was made. I guess I need to be reassured that it is the most important day for Maori to make a public holiday.

And secondly, I must ask the, “What if it’s just the tip of the ice-berg”, question (if I don’t, you will I’m sure!). What if the next suggestion will be to do away with Easter and instead celebrate Rangi’s or Tane’s birthday? Or the day Maui fished up Aotearoa from the sea…

For now, with the limited thinking I’ve done on the above two questions, I’m happy to take the risk, and stick with my “Bring on Matariki” sentiments.

So that’s me.
How about you?

Posted by Lynne Taylor at June 22, 2004 08:55 AM