Ngā Whetu

In support of Aotearoa's continued learning behind the meaning and importance of Matariki and the Māori New Year, the Homestead Galleries present a group exhibition of Māori artists; each showcasing works that speak to ngā whetu (the stars), Puanga and the Matariki cluster.

Kōrero tuku iho (traditions, oral tradition, stories of the past) passed down will differ between iwi and whānau. While some iwi herald the new year with the Matariki star cluster – whether that be nine stars or seven stars (as per Tainui star lore) – other iwi are unable to see Matariki from their rohe (region) and celebrate a star named Puanga instead.

Through the group's distinctive methods of storytelling and their own personal perspectives, Ngā Whetu offers a rich view into the significance of these stars, as they pertain to the people of Aotearoa, across a wide range of creative disciplines.