Living By The Moon

Title: Living By The Moon – Te Maramataka a Te Whānau a Apanui

Author: Wiremu Tāwhai

Iwi: Te Whānau ā Apanui

Description: This book was republished in 2020 by Huia Publishers. He pukapuka reo rua. This book is in English and Māori. Set out here is the arrangement of the nights of the Maramataka, the lunar month, according to the ancient knowledge of Te Whānau ā Apanui together with the elders’ understanding of it, and as they saw it in their time and in their region.

As Ngāti Raukawa, at this time of Matariki, our eyes are guided towards the heavens to take a reading for the year ahead. If Matariki appeared bright and clear, it would mean there would be lots of kaimoana, fish,horticultural crops would flourish, it would be a good growing season, and birds would be plentiful as would berries. If it appeared hazy or seemed to be moving about, it indicated a lean year ahead. Our tūpuna would look to the moon, but also to different stars and constellations in order to plan and order the year ahead. These environmental signs of the Matariki constellation in terms of clarity, colour, brightness, and the distance between stars are indicators for the year ahead. These references are woven into our culture, heritage, reo, pūrākau, tikanga and kawa including watching for the signs in the heavens for Te Rauparaha, and later on the births of the Māori King and Queen. Living By The Moon is a great way of filling up one’s kete with a Te Whānau a Apanui specific observations of Hina, and comparing with the tohu (signs) of Matariki. 

Materials: Soft cover, 77 pages