Test Your Knowledge: Matariki and the Maori New Year
Discover how much you know about Matariki, the New Zealand holiday and Maori new year, with this informative quiz!
1. Who is Tāwhirimātea in Māori tradition?
The god of wind and weather
The god of the sea
The god of the forest
The god of agriculture
2. When was Matariki first celebrated as an official public holiday in New Zealand?
24 June 2021
24 June 2022
24 June 2020
24 June 2019
3. Who is Matariki in the star cluster?
The central star in the cluster
The brightest star
The smallest star
The largest star
4. Which bird is associated with the Matariki celebration?
5. What is the role of Hiwa-i-te-rangi in Māori tradition?
The warrior star
The wishing star
The healer star
The guardian star
6. Which of the following is NOT a star in the Matariki cluster?
Tupu-ā-nuku
Tupu-ā-rangi
Waitā
Whiro
7. Which star is used by some iwi to mark the New Year instead of Matariki?
Hokulani
Kaus Australis
Atutahi
Puanga
8. What do the stars of Matariki represent in Maori culture?
Animals
Different food groups
Ancestors
Natural elements
9. How do Maori people use Matariki to forecast the coming season?
By watching animal behaviors
By interpreting the appearance of the stars
By measuring the temperature of the soil
By tracking sea currents
10. What did the early Polynesian settlers use Matariki's appearance for?
Hunting seasons
Navigation
Storytelling
Help mark the passage of time between planting and harvesting
11. What is the significance of the star Waitā in the Matariki cluster?
It represents fresh water bodies and food sources within them
It symbolizes the sky
It signifies the forest
It embodies the earth
12. What is the name of the star in the Matariki cluster representing fresh rainwater?
Ururangi
Waipuna-ā-rangi
Waitā
Hiwa-i-te-rangi
13. What do many Maori people do with regards to their dead during Matariki?
Perform a haka
Hold a memorial service
Recite a special prayer
Tell stories of their ancestors
14. Which of the following stars is associated with the wind?
Tupu-ā-nuku
Pōhutukawa
Ururangi
Waipuna-ā-rangi
15. What does the star Hiwa-i-te-rangi represent?
Dreams and aspiriations
Growth and prosperity
Leadership
Love
16. Why is cooking and sharing food an important part of Matariki celebrations?
It honors the ancestors
It's a symbol of wealth
It's required by tradition
It prepares for the upcoming harvest
17. How do some families celebrate Matariki at the beginning of the new year?
By exchanging gifts
By fasting
By reflecting on the past year and setting goals
By avoiding any celebrations
18. What is the traditional Maori name for the lunar calendar?
Rā whānau
Maramataka
Tangihanga
Rahui
19. Which star in Matariki is associated the deceased?
Tupu-ā-rangi
Pohutikawa
Tupu-ā-nuku
Waipuna-ā-rangi
20. Within Maori mythology, who are the parents of Matariki?
Ranginui and Papatūānuku
Tāne Mahuta and Hine Tītama
Rūaumoko and Hinenui-te-pō
Tangaroa and Hinemoana
