Reflect, Celebrate, Plan – Matariki

“They are a living cry of hope. They know what it is to listen to (the) Earth, to see (the) Earth, to touch (the) Earth. They remind us that we human beings have a shared responsibility to care for our common home.”
– Pope Francis, Indigenous Peoples Forum,  Rome February 2019

With our Sisters in New Zealand, Brigidines honour Matariki – a particularly treasured time in Aotearoa New Zealand.
For Māori, the rising of Matariki during June/July signals te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year.
Matarki 2024 falls on 28^th June.

Signified by the Matariki cluster of stars reappearing in the night sky, this is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate the present, and plan for the year ahead.

(Source: Aoteatoa New Zealand: 100% Pure NZ 2024)

In 2022, Matariki Day became a National Holiday for all New Zealanders, making it one of the first Indigenous celebrations to be recognised as a public holiday in a settler colonial state.

We are grateful to Anne Phibbs csb,  who shares her explanation and reflection about Matariki here:
Matariki 2024

“… Love of nature can only be authentic in solidarity with indigenous peoples who do not distinguish themselves from the plants, animals, rivers and mountains which inspire their languages practices, and spirit. So loving one must include the other.”
(Fatima Measham,   Invitation & Call 2022)