Matariki at Dress Smart
Every year in the starry expanse of our southern hemisphere, a cluster of stars known as Matariki emerges, marking the arrival of the Māori New Year – a time where we can learn from the past, celebrate the present and embrace the future.
Matariki is about celebrating who we were, who we are, and who we want to be, and it’s also the perfect time to spend time with the people closest to you – your friends and loved ones.
In 2024, we celebrated Matariki with a unique and expressive Matariki light tunnel, a specially crafted UV tunnel designed to reveal endless possibilities while exploring the stars of Matariki.
We welcomed customers in our Matariki light tunnel where they learned about mātauranga Māori with our keepsake UV cards, discovering aspirational whakataukī (or proverbs) relating to the roles of each of the nine Matariki stars.
The nine whetū (stars) of Matariki are:
- Matariki – the star that signifies reflection, hope and the gathering of people.
- Waitī – the star associated with all the fresh water and food sources within those waters.
- Waitā – the star associated with the ocean and food sources within it.
- Pōhutukawa – the star associated with those that have passed on.
- Hiwa-i-te-rangi – the star associated with granting our wishes.
- Waipuna-ā-rangi – the star associated with the rain.
- Tupuānuku – the star associated with food grown within the soil.
- Ururangi – the star associated with the wind.
- Tupuārangi – the star associated with fruits, berries and birds that grow up in the trees.
Everybody also enjoyed the simple sensation of walking through the tunnel and were encouraged to spend some time thinking about their past, their present and what their future may hold.
We can’t wait to see what the next year brings for you, and we look forward to celebrating Matariki again with you in 2025.
