4 Feb 2021

Māori astronomers to set dates for Matariki holiday

From Checkpoint, 6:13 pm on 4 February 2021

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Māori astronomers will be using the stars and moon phases to set a different date for the Matariki public holiday each year.

The Prime Minister promised to make Matariki a public holiday if re-elected - and today, she announced the first celebration will be on 24th of June 2022.

But it hasn't been easy for the group of Māori astronomers and navigators tasked with finding the right date.

Meriana Johnsen has more.