Matariki herenga waka: Celebrating Matariki with your pets

Matariki is a national holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand, celebrated each year when the Matariki star cluster (known in some parts of the world as the Pleiades) returns to the early morning skies. It’s “a time of reflection, celebration and preparation" that’s also known as the Māori New Year.

This year, the theme for Matariki is Matariki herenga waka, which means "for everyone" in te reo Māori. It’s about inclusion and encouraging all people to celebrate Matariki together with their friends, whānau, and other loved ones.

Here at SPCA, we know that for many, pets are part of the whānau! When thinking about how you plan to mark the holiday this year, we encourage you to think about ways to spend time with the animals in your life – and we’ve put together some ideas to help you get started.

Three principles – Matariki Hunga Nui (Remembrance), Matariki Ahunga Nui (Celebrating the Present), and Matariki Manako Nui (Looking to the Future) – guide the holiday and its celebrations.

Honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki

The first principle of Matariki, Matariki Hunga Nui, is all about remembering those we’ve lost. It guides us to come together with our whānau and friends to think about loved ones who have passed on, and the ways in which they helped shape who we are today.

This doesn’t just include human loved ones; for many, animals are members of our whānau. If you’ve lost a pet or an animal, Matariki is a great time to take a moment to remember them – and maybe even do something good in their honour. Anything from donating to a pet food pantry to volunteering to help other animals, or even just spending a little extra time with any other animals in your life, are great ways to honour and remember the animals you’ve loved who have passed on.

Another way to honour this principle of Matariki is by attending or hosting a whāngai i te hautapu (or hautapu for short). This is a ceremony that involves offering kai, or food, to the stars of Matariki in remembrance and honour of the dead, and is usually celebrated by gathering before dawn to watch the Matariki constellation rise above the horizon. You can host your own hautapu, attend one being hosted near you, or watch a live broadcast of the national Matariki hautapu at 6AM on Friday, 10 July. Your pets can join you during your own hautapu or while watching the broadcast, but if you’d like to bring a dog to a hautapu in person, be sure to check with the organisers first.

Gathering together to give thanks for what we have

The second principle of Matariki, Matariki Ahunga Nui, is about celebrating the present and expressing gratitude through spending time with those you love. And for many, humans aren’t our only loved ones – pets are part of our families too!

If there’s an animal in your life that you’re grateful for, set some time aside to spend with them this Matariki weekend. You could take your dog out to their favourite dog-friendly walk spot or park, or spend a bit of extra time playing with your cat or other animals.

Sharing kai (food) is also a key part of Matariki. And as most pet owners know, a few extra treats usually never go amiss!

Looking forward to the promise of a new year

The third and final principle of Matariki is Matariki Manako Nui, which focuses on looking ahead to the year to come. This is a time for thinking about your aspirations and hopes for the coming twelve months, and there are plenty of ways to incorporate your pets. Think about how your animals’ needs can be met over the next year; how can you make the next year of their lives the best it can be?

This might also be a great time to think about creating space in your home for a new furry friend. Could your whānau be expanded in the year ahead? If so, consider adopting or fostering an animal in need – we’d love to hear from you if that feels right for you.

When you’re planning activities for your weekend, keep in mind that these values are embedded in the traditional practices of Matariki, and should be part of any plans you make:

• Aroha (love)
• Whakamaumaharatanga (remembrance)
• Kotahitanga (unity)
• Tohatoha (sharing)
• Mana Taiao (environmental awareness)
• Hākari (feasting)
• Wānanga (discussion)
• Noho tahi (coming together)
• Atawhaitanga (kindness)
• Whakanui (celebration)
• Tuakiritanga (identity)

For more information, head to the Matariki website.

Matariki is a holiday that asks us to spend time with those we love, while remembering those we’ve lost and thinking about how we want to be in the world in the year ahead. We hope you, your loved ones, and your pets have a safe and happy holiday weekend. Mānawatia a Matariki!