Puaka and Matariki: The Māori New Year

Authors

  • Jim Williams Ngāi Tahu / University of Otago

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15286/jps.122.1.7-20

Abstract

Recent years have seen the emergence of regular activities, each June in New Zealand, to coincide with what is usually referred to as "The Māori New Year", generally known as "Matariki". However, within my tribal area, as well as in a number of others, the term "Puaka" was used instead. The article examines these differing tribal traditions and proposes a possible explanation for the two schools of thought.

Author Biography

Jim Williams, Ngāi Tahu / University of Otago

Jim Williams of Kai Tahu is a Senior Lecturer in Te Tumu, The School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies, at the University of Otago, where he teaches a stream of Kai Tahu and Environmental Management papers. His area of research includes traditional Māori ways and Māori environmental management, with particular emphasis on his own iwi, Kai Tahu.

Journal of the Polynesian Society, Volume 122, Issue 1, March 2013

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Published

2013-05-28

Issue

Vol. 122 No. 1 (2013)

Section

Articles

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