There will be no light pollution – no street lights, no traffic lights, no neon signs to take away from the moment.

Just a couple of hundred people hopefully, Katikati locals, men women, and children, huddled together in the early evening darkness on Te Rereatukahia Marae in Rereatukahia Pa Road, eyes tilted to the northeast sky and waiting for the galaxy to deliver its own very special light show.

Mātauranga Māori, or ancestral knowledge and wisdom, is at the heart of Matariki, so on the evening of June 19, eyes will be up and ears tuned to two experts, Ngairo Eruera and Haimona Brown, who will help the marae crowd connect and understand that constellation of stars which, in Māori culture is Matariki, and also known as Pleiades or The Seven Sisters.

It’s the town’s second annual ‘Readings of the Stars’ event – a Māori insight, in a Māori setting, into Matariki – the first of two major, back-to-back events in the town to celebrate Matariki.

Natural home

“It’s an even more significant, an even more special occasion this time,” according to Paula Gaelic, manager of Western Bay Museum and one of Katkati’s collaborative community partners organising the event.

“Because, at their request, the event is going to its obvious and natural home, Te Rereatukahia Marae for the first time.”

“When our marae community has a platform to be seen and heard, that alone is empowering for us,” said the marae’s Hone Winder-Murray.

“And what resonates deeply with our people is when we embrace the unique identity of each of our communities through sharing kai and korero.”

And in the process, they will promote a broader understanding and appreciation of the national holiday for the Katikati community.

“It also means a lot of people who’ve never been to a marae and are curious, will get the experience,” said Gaelic. “It’s lovely.”

She said Haimona Brown will have a large map of the night sky laid out on the ground that people can reference.

“All part of viewing and understanding the stars,” said Gaelic.

And there will be alternative activities for the kids.

Working together

The reappearance of the Matariki cluster brings the past year to a close and heralds in the new. It is a time for remembrance, honouring those lost since the last rising.

It will celebrate the present, people gathering to give thanks for what we have. And it looks to the future, with the promise of new things and new direction.

Historically, the stars of Matariki were also closely aligned to planting, harvesting and hunting.

So everyone will be hoping a bright and clear show from the cluster which will signify an abundant season ahead.

It’s what the collaborative Katikati partnership is all about, said Gaelic. “A community working together, delivering events that are a fun learning experience.”

Read the stars, gather at the gates to Te Rereatukahia Marae on Rereatukahia Pa Rd at 5pm on Thursday, June 19, and be welcomed onto the marae and drawn into the galaxy and the world of the stars – Matariki.

Get to understand and enjoy why you will be having a holiday the following day.

‘Reading of the Stars’ comes the evening before the Matariki Dawn Service at Te Whareorahi, the Park Rd Reserve, just before dawn at 5.30am.