Matariki

In Aotearoa (New Zealand) Matariki is the name of the star cluster also known to the rest of the world as Pleiades. When these stars rise in the east before dawn during the Tangaroa moon phases we celebrate the Maori new year. During this time we honor the cluster and their attributes, we say goodbye to the close people we lost over the year and we spend time with our loved ones. The cluster has 9 stars Matariki - Alcyone Ururangi - Merope Waipunarangi - Electra Waita - Maia Waiti - Taygeta Tupuarangi - Atlas Tupuanuku - Pleione Pohutukawa - Asterope Hiwaiterangi - Celaeno