Matariki in the House

Today is Matariki. We're only in our second year here, and I'll admit — New Zealand's public holidays and traditions still feel a little foreign to us. For the children growing up in this place, I want every one of these days to hold a memory worth keeping.

Last year, in the lead-up to Matariki, the girls came home from school full of what they'd learned — what the day means, why it matters. To make it feel just as familiar to them as it clearly was to their classmates, we sat down together and cut out paper stars. Beside our stairs there's a big lattice partition, and that's where we hung them — two sizes, each one labelled in the kids' own handwriting with its Māori name and what it represents.

The evening before Matariki this year, on the way home from piano lesson, Hyun piped up: tomorrow's Matariki — let's make stars again.

So after dinner, out came the paper once more. This time we went for something brighter, more sparkly — nine stars in two sizes, cut from paper we'd tucked away for the occasion. The method is simple enough: cut the star shape, fold each point in half, and it holds its form.

Up they went on the partition again. A small tradition, born without us quite meaning to start one.

Tonight, once the sun's gone down on Matariki, we'll head out to the deck to look up at the stars — and read the Māori stories behind them.

Download available — for anyone who'd like to make their own at home.

☑️ Matariki Star templates in two sizes

📚 Two books for Matariki

☑️ Matariki by Gavin Bishop

☑️ My Matariki Colouring and Activity Book by Miriama Kamo, Rangi Matamua & Isobel Joy Te Aho-White