We're on the countdown with 14 days until Matariki – and honestly? I'm here for it!
Matariki is the star cluster that rises over Aotearoa and kicks off the Māori New Year. This year, the official public holiday lands on Friday 10 July, marked by the beginning of the Tangaroa maramataka phase from the 7th. This is a high energy period in the calendar lasting through to the end of the star ruhanui, before the new moon of Whiro begins te rua o takurua (the following whetu).
Disclaimer though... Matariki isn't just another public holiday to sleep in and eat leftovers (though, let's be real, I'm not mad at that either). What it's is, is a whole vibe shift! A chance to hit pause on the chaos and actually feel time instead of just watching it sprint past you.
For our tūpuna, Matariki lighting up the pre-dawn sky was the signal to stop, gather, and turn inward. A moment to honour the ones who'd left through the year, to celebrate what they had right now, and to look ahead with hope.
And honestly? That wisdom hits different when you actually start living it. It is the past, present and future all connected together.
So what's it all about? Well grab a kapu tī (or something stronger, if you need 😜), and let's dive in! (Though brace yourself... it's 100% through a MindKai lens - or to be more specific: the MindKai Matariki ritual kit lens!).
REMEMBER: THE ONES WHO CAME BEFORE
First up: remembrance.
Professor Rangi Mātāmua (the fella behind Matariki becoming recognised nationally) puts it perfectly – Matariki is about "remembering those that we've lost since the last rising of Matariki." Traditionally, that meant the whāngai i te hautapu ceremony, where names of the departed were called out, mourned, and released. The belief? That their spirits became stars. So every time you look up, they're still there. Watching over you. Cheering you on.
I don't know about you, but I find that incredibly ataahua. The people we've lost aren't gone – they're just... upgraded and on a different haerenga. Kind of like - different address, same love.
How to honour: In the MindKai Matariki ritual, this section calls us to acknowledge Pōhutukawa – the star connected to those who have passed across the year. There's a moment to reflect on them (heck, you could even tell a story about them that makes you laugh or what ever works for you!). This is all about letting remembrance be a connection, not just grief!
CELEBRATE: RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!
Second: celebration.
Matariki was always a time to feast, to sing, to play, to be together. Our tūpuna would gather with whānau and friends, sharing kai, waiata, tākaro, haka – the works. It was a way of saying 'ngā mihi' for the harvest and was a celebration of life itself.
In our busy, over-scheduled, screen-addicted modern lives - I often think we forget to do this. We forget that connection isn't optional – it's how we survive and thrive.
How to honour this: Plan something with the people who matter. It doesn't have to be fancy. Share a meal. Tell stories. Laugh. Celebrate the fact that you're here, right now, together. That alone is pretty bloody magical.
In the MindKai ritual - celebrating Pohutukawa takes you to the realm of those passed (which is seen as sacred) - so one moment included is to cleanse yourself within a water source (preferably one out in te taiao... but a pool or shower works too! 😏).
In a Māori context, this action is like a pure – a ceremony to bring yourself back to whakanoa (removal of tapu or restriction), or a way to bring you back to 'the now' - the present.
To help ground you - a special uku (soap) is included, which helps you find a sense of belonging and an inner state of stillness and stability. The rongoā Māori within the uku hold their own powers – kānuka for regeneration, kawakawa for strength, mānuka for self-renewal, and more. It's a way to celebrate the present by literally grounding yourself in the here and now.
PLAN: WHAT'S NEXT?
Third: planning for the future.
Traditionally, Matariki was when our tūpuna read the stars to forecast the year ahead. Bright, clear stars? They used that knowledge to prepare – to store food, plan planting, get their whānau ready.
We can do the same too. Not necessarily by reading the stars (though honestly, if that's your jam, go for it), but by taking intentional time to reflect:
- Where have you been?
- Where are you going?
- What do you want to carry forward?
- What needs to be left behind?
As one kaumātua I met at a Matariki celebration once said to me: "It's about planning for the future and looking forward to a new and bright future." A simple whakaaro, but a powerful one!
At the moment, this really hits home. When Matariki comes, this will absolutely be about my little boy and also celebrating the precious time I have with my mum right now (as she navigates being unwell).
How to honour this: Set aside some time before Matariki. Reflect on the past year. What worked? What didn't? What are you proud of? What are you ready to release? Then turn that reflection into intention.
But if you want your intentions and manifestations to stick - this is where the MindKai Matariki ritual kit comes alive! Steeped in tikanga... it becomes more than words written down, or goals spoken to the universe. It becomes deeper. More. An imprint.
A whole section is dedicated to manifesting the future, where you work through each of the remaining whetu of Matariki, acknowledging the wisdom they bring and making commitments to honour them in your health and wellbeing journey for the coming year.
Below is what this looks like in a nutshell - so if you want to make more connected intentions this Matariki, use it as your guide and even use some of my suggestions:
Matariki – connected to health and wellbeing. Set your intentions for prioritising your health. Join a gym, take up yoga, commit to a self-care ritual each day – it's all up to you.
Tupuānuku – associated with food grown in the ground. Make a commitment to grow your own kai, eat more vegetables, or improve soil health in your māra.
Tupuārangi – associated with food grown in the sky (forests and birds). Grow a fruit tree, spend time in the ngahere, learn about a native rākau or manu each week.
Waitī – associated with freshwater. Commit to preserving our freshwater ways – shorter showers, drinking more wai, or actively protecting our awa.
Waitā – associated with salt water and the moana. Do a beach clean-up, go to the beach at least once a month, or buy plastic-free alternatives.
Waipunarangi – associated with rain. Go on a rainy day walk, sing or dance in the rain, make some rain art – find joy in this element.
Ururangi – associated with the wind and weather. Do a five-minute breathing exercise each day, quit smoking or vaping, or plant a tree each month to reduce air pollution.
Hiwa-i-te-Rangi – the Māori wishing star, speaking to your hopes and desires. This is where you set your other goals and resolutions beyond the ones above.
LIVING IN RHYTHM - ALL YEAR ROUND
Matariki isn't a 'one-and-done'.
The Māori calendar – Te tau toru o Matariki me te maramataka – are guided by the stars and the moon. They're a living, breathing system that connect us to the natural world.
Matariki marks the new year, but the cycle keeps going – season after season, moon after moon.
That's where the MindKai Calendar comes in.
It's designed to help you live in rhythm with the Maramataka – not just during Matariki, but every single day. It's about shifting how you feel about time: from something that rushes past you, to something you move with.
By aligning your life with these natural rhythms, you can:
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Honour remembrance by creating space for reflection and connection
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Celebrate the present by knowing when to gather, when to rest, when to just be
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Plan for the future by understanding the cycles of energy, intention, and action
This isn't about adding another thing to your to-do list. It's about changing your relationship with time itself.
LET'S HIKOI INTO MATARIKI TOGETHER!
Matariki 2026 is almost here. The stars are rising. The new year is coming.
This period of time invites us to remember, to celebrate, and to plan. It invites us to slow down, to connect, and to live with intention – not because we should, but because it genuinely feels better.
Whether you're Māori or Pākehā, whether you've celebrated Matariki for decades or you're learning about it for the first time – this is for you. The theme for 2026 is Matariki herenga waka – "For Everyone". It's an open invitation to all of us to walk into the new year together.
So as the countdown ticks down, ask yourself:
Who am I remembering?
What am I celebrating?
What am I planning for?
And if you're ready to live in rhythm with all of this – not just for Matariki, but all year round – check out the MindKai Calendar.
It might just change how you feel about time...
Sources
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Matariki 2026 dates and public holiday: Te Wānanga o Aotearoa; 100% Pure New Zealand
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Three principles of Matariki: RNZ interview with Professor Rangi Mātāmua; Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
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Traditional Matariki practices: Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
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Matariki 2026 theme "Matariki herenga waka": RNZ; Science Learning Hub
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MindKai Calendar: MindKai ritual kit