Slow start to the week? The pukapuka/book explaining why that might be (spoiler—it’s the moon), and more.
Kia ora e hoa mā,
Nau mai, hoki mai ki Te Arawhata - the moon edition!
This week we recommend a pukapuka/book on maramataka/the Māori lunar calendar explaining why this week may have had a slow start, a tv show to lift your catch count, beautiful artworks inspired by Hina/the Māori moon goddess, and a whole lot more to keep that cultural kete full to the brim.
Heoi tuatahi/But first, kimihia ōu mōwhiti/find your glasses, because it’s time for some news.
- Anna Coddington has a new single out called ‘Kātuarehe’ (and it’s rad).
- ‘Troy Kingi’s Desert Hikoi’, a tv show following the famous musician on a haerenga/journey through Joshua Tree National Park, starts on Wednesday.
- Waitaha and Tainui Kapa Haka Regionals wrapped on the weekend, leaving just Tāmaki Makaurau to go.
- Māori art is having it’s moment according to gallerist, Tim Melville.
- A new season of ‘Pukana’ kicks off this week for the youngens.
This book is a true taonga tuku iho/treasure handed down and privilege to read. Full of tribal wisdom and the cultural revitalisation moemoea/dreams of its author (who kept it tucked tightly under his arm through London, Italy, and even Waikato Hospital during the writing process) it’s a baton to be taken up and passed on e hoa mā—by you!
Find it: on the Huia website I Time: best read over a month I Cost: $25 I Credits: written by Wiremu Tawhai
We loved the look of these paintings when we first saw them. We loved them more after learning they represent Jade and her sister (who became friends at primary without knowing they were related), their connection to the whenua, Hina, the Māori moon goddess, and their unborn tamariki. Ka raraku/Scratch the surface to find a whole new ao/world here fam.
Find more of her work: on the Season website and Jade’s instagram page I Time: 2 mins I Cost: free I Credits: artwork by Jade Townsend, images courtesy of the artist and Season, photography by Samuel Hartnett
The perfect combo of gentle encouragement, practical advice and, ‘Also, you just need to ruddy do it,’ truths, this is a primo starting point for anyone keen to give maramataka a crack. We loved their examples of practise at mahi/work, in the mara/garden, and at the whare hākinakina/gym. Also, Ayla’s cycle breakdown into 4 main quarters? A beginner’s dream!
Find it: on Spotify I Time: 52mins I Cost: free I Credits: Planting Seeds is hosted by Raniera Rewiri
Righto, enough of the theory, this one’s for kaipānui/readers who like to get their hands… well, fishy. In an absolute celebration of application, Nore Martin, shows anyone who likes catching fish, how to do it better using maramataka. It’s entertaining, inspiring, and sports a ‘mostly in te reo Māori with English subtitles’ cherry on top for reo Māori learners!
Find it: on Whakaata Māori I Time: 30mins I Cost: free I Credits: written by hosted by Nore Martin, produced by 2B Media
After putting this pānui/newsletter together, I was feeling pretty inspired by maramataka. Nō reira/So at our Monday team hui, I boldly announced my plan to live by the moon for a month.
‘Rawe!/Great!’ they exclaimed. ‘You're on Grace!’
‘Perfect,’ I said. ‘So…what now?’ I thought.
Tuatahi/Firstly, I turned to the Māori creatorverse we love so much here at Te Arawhata to do some rangahau/research.
My editor, Lizzie’s eyes widened as my desk transformed into a sea of rauemi/resources (including Hinemoa Elder’s ‘Wawata’, a maramataka dial, ‘Te Marama’, and a flip calendar from Tuhi Stationery) and tabs for Maahina’s instagram page, Heeni Hoterene’s Maramataka Māori daily updates, and Tik Tok videos (like this one where Hana Tapiata advises people not to prescribe maramataka to others) took over my screen.
Tuarua/Secondly, I bought myself a diary, scribbled a few standard ‘Mrs. Grace Momoas’ on the front cover in love hearts, and proceeded to record life in attempted moon alignment. There were ups, there were downs and, ok, I fully fell off the bandwagon for a week, but overall, it was a pretty life changing experience.
Here are my takeaways for anyone else curious about living by the moon.
#1 Not every day needs to be ‘go, go, go’ (in fact, that’s plain impossible).
As the moon cycles wax and wane, so do we. Maramataka embraces this reality, designating periods of rest, planning, and caring for others which actually just feels like a way more sane and efficient way to live. As Matua Tupac said, ‘If you can make it through the night, there's a brighter day.’
#2 Learning about maramataka influences your whakaaro/thoughts
One night as I read a pukapuka (anō/again) to my very awake daughter way past bedtime, I remembered Rikki Solomon, a mātanga/expert in the field, explaining how tamariki who didn't sleep were seen as potential navigators back in the rā/day. Suddenly, my daughter's late-night ‘stargazing sessions’ didn’t seem so annoying.
#3 It also influences your actions
Ok, so on that prescribing business that Hana Tapiata told us not to do…well... when I forgot and told Lizzie it was Māwharu one ata/morning (a time for high energy and productivity), I saw her whole demeanour change. Next thing I knew, my notifications were blowing up as she started smashing out work. Oops, but… interesting.
#4 Living by the moon was definitely good for my hauora/wellbeing
I spent more time in nature noticing natural shifts in the taiao. I gardened, found more ways to care for Papatūānuku, took time to clean up the whare, and practise gratitude—and it felt GREAT.
#5 The maramataka isn't just about fishing and gardening, it’s about relationships
That includes relationships with the taiao/environment, ngā atua/the gods, partners, friends, and whānau. For example, as Tamanui-te-rā shifts towards Hineraumati from Hinetakurua for our warmer months, some say it warns of possible jealousy or relationship hiccups. It’s cool to be aware of these cycles and to think about how to work within them on all sides.
#6 Implementing maramataka does require effort, dedication, and expert help
I tried for a month, slacked for a week, and did what one person said exactly not to do… but hey, I still got a lot out of it and will continue to seek advice, define my own relationship and style of living by the moon. If you’re interested, I’m sure you can too. No pressure though, eh Hana 😅.
That’s us e hoa mā. Our whole reason for existing is to show you how many amazing opportunities are out there in the Māori creatorverse to enjoy, learn from, and connect with te ao Māori. Whether you’re Māori, Tangata Tiriti, Pākehā, Tauiwi, or he kakīroa, we hope you feel welcome and found something in here today to do just that. Hei ā tērā wiki!/Till next week!
