Inmid-winter,Matarikirisesinthepre-dawnsky,anditsobservationiscelebratedwithincantationsonhilltopsatdawn,balls,exhibitions,dinnersandavastnumberofevents.TheMatarikitraditionhasbeenre-established,anditsregenerationcoincideswithagrowinginterestinMāoriastronomy.Still,thereremainsomeunansweredquestionsabouthowMatarikiwastraditionallyobserved.Theseinclude:
WhatisMatariki?
WhydidMāoriobserveMatariki?
HowdidMāoritraditionallycelebrateMatariki?
WhenandhowshouldMatarikibecelebrated?
BasedonresearchandinterviewswithMāoriexperts,thisbookseeksanswerstothesequestionsandexploreswhatMatarikiwasinatraditionalsensesoitcanbeunderstoodandcelebratedinourmodernsociety.