Lunar vs Solar calendars
Many Polynesian cultures follow calendars based on elements such as stars and the changing phases of the moon. This is in contrast to most of the Western world which follows the Gregorian calendar, a solar calendar which is based on tracking the Earth’s movements around the sun.
Maramataka
Maramataka translates to ‘moon rotating’ and is the name of the Māori luni-solar calendar. Maramataka follows the moon’s phases along with which stars appear on the eastern horizon before sunrise. Maramataka is intimately linked to environmental factors such as the tides, and the calendar guides the timing of important events throughout the year such as fishing, hunting, and planting and harvesting crops.
Because the Moon influences the ebbs and flows of the tides, Maramataka was traditionally very important to Māori who relied heavily on the ocean for food and would schedule activities such as fishing and planting around changes in the ocean. The cycles of the Moon would help guide when certain activities could best be undertaken.
Across Aotearoa there are more than 40 different versions of Maramataka. Each one is similar with only slight variations on names and corresponding days of the Moon’s cycle.
The Māori Phases of the Moon
European cultures typically recognise only 8 phases for the Moon (Full, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent, New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter and Waxing Gibbous). Maramataka recognises between 28 and 32 different phases of the Moon.
The following phases are taken from one of many Maramataka in use across Aotearoa, from ‘Takitimu’ by A.H and A.W. Reed.
Generally, Whiro was the first night of the New Moon and Mutuwhenua was the last.
1. Whiro – bad day, the Moon is out of sight.
New Moon
2. Tirea – Bad day. The New Moon determines the start of the lunar month.
3. Hoata – Good day for planting & fishing.
4. Uenuku – Good day for planting. Good night for eeling.
5. Okoro – Good day for planting. Good night for eeling.
6. Tamatea-a hotu – Bad day for planting & fishing.
7. Tamatea-a ngana – Bad day for planting & fishing.
First Quarter
8. Tamatea-aio – Good day for planting & fishing.
9. Tamatea-kai-ariki – Bad day for planting & fishing.
10. Huna – Bad day, everything is hidden.
11. Ari – Fairly good for planting & fishing; good night for spearing eels.
12. Maure – Fairly good for planting & fishing; good night for spearing eels..
13. Mawharu – Good day, especially for cray fishing.
14. Ohua – Good day for planting; good returns for all seeds and seedlings.
Full Moon
15. Turu – Fairly good for planting, the Sun sets and the Moon rises simultaneously.
16. Rakaunui – Good day for planting, but not for fishing.
17. Rakaumatohi – Fairly good day, whitebait moving.
18. Takirau – Best day of all to plant kūmara .
19. Oike – Fairly good day for planting & fishing.
20. Korekore-hahani – Bad day as everything is unattainable.
21. Korekore-whiwhia – Bad day as everything is unattainable.
22. Korekore- rawea – Bad day as everything is unattainable.
Last Quarter
23. Korekore-piri-ki-Tangaroa – Bad day as everything is unattainable.
24. Tangaroa-a-mua – Good day for deep-sea fishing; white-bait is running.
25. Tangaroa-a-roto – Good day for deep-sea fishing; white-bait is running.
26. Otane – Good day for deep-sea fishing and night eeling.
27. Orongonui – Good day, whitebait descending when Moon is well on the wane.
28. Mauri – Good from dawn until midday.
29. Omutu – Bad day for everything.
30. Mutuwhenua – The worst day of all (Moon is dead).
The Māori new year
Maramataka also plays an important role in Māori New Year celebrations.
To many iwi,the New Year is marked by the rising of Puanga and Matariki just before sunrise. Traditionally this falls in the lunar month of Pipiri (June/July). During this time, Ngā Pō a Tangaroa -the Nights of Tangaroa- occur in the last quarter of the moon.
The Tangaroa phase of the maramataka is tied to themes of reflection, renewal, and abundance. The New Year is a time to honour those who have passed, reflect on the past year, and prepare for the future by starting new planting and planning for the year ahead.
