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Matariki and Astrology


Matariki is the name given by Māori to the star cluster known globally as the Pleiades. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the rising of Matariki marks the Māori New Year — a time woven deeply into the Maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar. Many cultures around the world honour the Pleiades, but here in Aotearoa, Matariki carries a unique blend of remembrance, celebration, and renewal.



In 2026, Matariki falls on 10 July. The New Year begins with the first New Moon following the visible rising of the Matariki cluster. Traditionally, this is a time to gather with whānau, reflect on the year that has passed, honour the harvest, and prepare for the year ahead. Because Matariki rises in mid‑winter, it also signals a turning point — a quiet moment of stillness before the light slowly returns.



Matariki and Astrology

Matariki has long served as an ancient astrological guide. Māori astronomers observed the brightness and clarity of specific stars within the cluster to predict the year ahead.

  • Bright, clear stars signalled abundance and a prosperous season.

  • Dim or hazy stars suggested the need to prepare for scarcity.


In Western astrology, the rising of Matariki aligns with Cancer season in the Southern Hemisphere — a sign associated with home, family, nurturing, reflection, and emotional renewal. The themes mirror each other beautifully: tending to the inner world, honouring loved ones, and preparing the ground for new beginnings.



A Global Celebration of the Pleiades

Māori are not the only culture to honour this star cluster. Across the world, the Pleiades hold deep cultural significance:


  • Greece: The Pleiades

  • Japan: Subaru

  • Hawai‘i: Makali‘i


Here in New Zealand, Matariki has become a celebration embraced by both Māori and Pākehā — a time to gather, share food, remember loved ones, and welcome the promise of a new year.



My Reflection: A Year of Transformation

As I look back on the past year, Matariki feels especially significant. It marks a full cycle — a year of highs, lows, and profound transformation.


A year ago, I had to leave a place I had called home, on and off, for thirty years. It was a place I always returned to when I needed to heal. But last June, under the energy of Matariki, I had to leave for good. I stepped onto a new path, in a new town, carving out a new life.


The year that followed was not easy. Stress took a toll on my health — I lost weight, muscle tone, and energy. At the same time, I was adjusting to a new lifestyle, rebuilding my strength, and forming new connections with friends and soul family.


Somewhere along the way, I lost my power. I became entangled in someone else’s dream — a dream that slowly smothered me. It crept in quietly, creating feelings of unworthiness, self‑doubt, and dimming the joy I usually carry. Even my dancing — one of my greatest loves — lost its spark.


Then someone said something that made everything click into place. The realisation hit home. I began taking steps to remove myself from this  energy. And what unfolded was extraordinary: I discovered how many friends were standing around me, supporting me, watching out for me. Life began to brighten again. My dancing returned with new life.


And recently, I realised something simple and powerful:

Rosemary is back.

Why I Share This


Because it has been exactly a year. Because I truly have something to celebrate. Because Matariki invites us to pause, reflect, and acknowledge how far we’ve come.

I feel gratitude for the lessons, appreciation for the growth, and joy for the woman I am now. As the New Year begins, I welcome it with excitement, openness, and trust in what lies ahead.


Who knows what this next cycle will bring — but I am open to new possibilities, new beginnings, and the deeper meaning Matariki holds for me.


For me, this year, Matariki is profoundly significant.



This article has been supplied by Rosemary Leach. All content is the opinion and copyright of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of DrumRoll Promotions Ltd. If you have any questions regarding this article you may wish to contact the author direct.

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