 
Te Aroha News
29 June 2009
Its all eyes on Matariki in July
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| Astronomer - Frank Andrews |
Te Aroha i-Site and Te Aroha College will see Matariki in this year.
I-Site and the college have joined forces to encourage people to bring in the new Maori year by bringing astronomer Frank Andrews to the college to talk about Matariki. "Once the sun has risen we will also provide a hot breakfast," i-Site manager Michele Laurie said.
Also known as the Southern Hemisphere New Year, Matariki is celebrated worldwide.
"Early civilisations were entirely dependant on successful harvests for their survival. For this they needed to establish a reliable calendar," Mrs Laurie said. "These societies had no idea of the true nature and layout of the universe. Their concept was entirely earth centered."
The calendar was based on the sun revolving around the earth each day and the moons cycle of phases - how long it took for each full moon to appear. "Matariki is a group of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster or the seven sisters."
Mr Andrews and the i-Site team will be at Te Aroha College on July 11 to see the star cluster. "If the weather is unsuitable we will postpone the event until the next day (July 12)."
Mrs Laurie said everyone is welcome to go along and Matariki rising.
"We will be at the college at 5.45am."
For more information contact Mrs Laurie at the Te Aroha i-Site Centre.
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