Matariki

Matariki is also known as the constellation Pleiades. Pleiades means dove in Greek because the seven sisters were turned into doves. The seven sisters is another name for Matariki because Matariki has Seven stars. The stars are all blue giants. In Maori stories, Matariki means eyes of god. One story says that the god of wind ripped out his eyes and they became the stars.

Matariki goes from the night sky in may. In June it rises. When it rises it is the Maori new year.  This signals it is time to plant new crops and that the hunting season is nearly over.