Finding an understanding of Matariki
It is all about renewal
Te Wananga o Aotearoa lecturer Jodee Owen sits down to talk about her understanding of all things Matariki.
During our interview she touches on its personal meaning to herself and also what it means in a wider respect to Aotearoa. In our discussion she points to Matariki being a time of harvest and how she believes that Matariki is a time to spend with family.
For Jodee the importance of renewal is a constant theme. renewal of harvest, renewal for relationships, a time of renewal for all things in our lives.
“It’s all about renewal, that is my understanding of Matariki and it’s application”
Jodee gave some insight into her tribe’s view of Matariki, For the Ngapuhi iwi, Matariki isn’t visible as a constellation and they are only able to see one star. So their worldview is quite different. Because of this Jodee did tell me that her knowledge of Matariki was different to people who would have grown up here in the Waikato region.
Even so, Jodee did recognize its significance to Aotearoa and its revival as a celebration. Matariki has different names around the world, with the Pleiades and Subaru being the most well known.
