Living by the Maramataka – School Journal Level 3 November 2022

Heeni Hoterene is a kaitiaki of maramataka. Heeni Hoterene grew up in Horowhenua. (On her mother’s side, one of her iwi is Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga.) The area is famous for its good climate and good soil, and Heeni’s whānau had a big vegie garden. Heeni learnt a lot about gardening from her koro. He traced what he knew back to their tūpuna, who lived on the same land.

Keywords: ancestors, astronomy, environment, Hawaiki, kaitiaki, kaitiakitanga, marama, maramataka, Matariki, Mātauranga Māori, moon, new year, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, phases of the moon, Puaka, Puanga, seasons, stars, Te Mātahi o te Tau, time, tūpuna, whānau