Guided by Puanga: Local Reflections for Matariki
- Rimu Reporter
- Jun 15
- 4 min read
Interview with Dale van Engelen and her Sister Ngaire Anne Shelford
Matariki is a time for remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future. We sat down with Dale van Engelen and her sister, Ngaire Anne Shelford from the Whakapara Marae to understand the tikanga of Puanga, Matariki and the maramataka for members of our local community.
In Te Tai Tokerau, Puanga is celebrated as the marker for the New Year because it is brighter in some areas than Matariki and rises a week earlier.
“Today I feel many people are reclaiming their Māori heritage and attuning themselves to nature, and our maramataka is a fundamental part of that.” says Dale van Engelen.
Maramataka is the way our tūpuna understood and tracked the passing of time. In generations where much of this mātauranga faded from everyday use, whānau continued to intrinsically hold and protect it, carrying the knowledge passed down from our tūpuna.
It’s a system grounded in observation, reading the environment, the seasons, and the phases of the moon to guide which activities are best suited to each moment. The appearance of Puanga and Matariki marks the beginning of the Māori New Year and anchors the cycle.
Through the marama (lunar phases), we understand the most favourable times for fishing, gardening, communication, ceremony, and other important practices.
A lot of Māori and community are brought up with the maramataka underpinning their lifecycle of activities and it’s a strong part of everyday culture for many; knowing when to plant, the best growing seasons, harvesting, and then our resting. It’s cyclical in nature and incredibly important to the cycle of life and the need to rejuvenate to continue.
For Dale and Ngaire, Puanga is about grounding ourselves in the environment and recognising how closely our wellbeing is tied to the whenua that sustains us. “If you look after it, it will look after you” says Ngaire. This is a sentiment that applies to everyone in New Zealand – as we are all caretakers of the land.
“It’s been really lovely to see the conversations and the empowerment of young people engaging with the maramataka and our history, and its importance, since Matariki has been brought into the mainstream conversation as a public holiday.”
The Puanga phase of the maramataka signifies when the earth goes to sleep to prepare for the next phase of life, “the rest cycle”. It’s an important time to reflect on the lifecycle and acknowledge those that have passed away during this time.
Evey iwi, hapu, and whānau has their own stories and way that they celebrate and acknowledge Puanga and Matariki. At Whakapara Marae they’ve begun kōrero about how we will mark this time, ensuring our plans align with the maramataka and what feels right for our community. Planting a tree is one possibility being discussed, as this is an ideal time in the maramataka to return life to the soil and prepare for the next phase of the cycle.
Karakia is an important part of Māori culture, and at the first rising of Puanga it is traditional to celebrate that with karakia and hautapu to give thanks for what we have been given from the season. Another tradition is acknowledging those members of the whānau who have passed away during the last year; for some, this includes reciting the names of their loved ones under Puanga before stepping into the new phase of the lifecycle.
“It’s important to look back so you can continue to move forwards.” says Dale.
It’s also a special time to strengthen whanaungatanga and share stories, especially the old legends that explain how our world came to be. These pūrākau are powerful to pass on over kai and to talk about with our tamariki. The stories of Papatūānuku and Ranginui help us understand our place in the world, and Puanga is a meaningful time to revisit these legends and keep them alive within our whānau.
“Sharing time with family at Puanga is important to me, coming together with whānau and reforming that connection,” says Ngaire.
Dale is also the chairperson of the Whangarei Takiwā, connected to the Ngāpuhi Runanga.
"We have nine marae in our Takiwā and each year we have a Puanga celebration when awards are given for people who have contributed to their marae. It is a time to share kai and give thanks for our marae and the hard working people who keep them going."
This kōrero reflects Dale and Ngaire’s lived experience and whānau understanding, acknowledging that Puanga and Matariki holds different meanings for different people.
Understanding Matariki, Puanga and Their Place in the Sky
Matariki refers to a cluster of stars, known internationally as the Pleiades, while Puanga is a single bright star, recognised as Rigel in Western astronomy.
Both sit within the wider pattern often described as Te Waka o Rangi, the celestial waka that travels across the winter sky.
To spot Puanga, start by finding Tautoru (Orion’s Belt, the three stars that form the base of “The Pot”). From there, look upward and you’ll see the bright star that many in Te Tai Tokerau watch for as the sign of the new year.
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