Puanga, Star of the Māori New Year

Ko Puanga-nui-ā-rangi Te Whetū Mātāmua O Te Tau Hou Māori : Nānā I Ārahi I Ā Matariki Tana Tuahine Tō Muri Iho

Puanga is the star Rigel in Orion. Most of the tribes of the Māori people in Aotearoa observed Puanga to mark the beginning of the Māori New Year. In Māori mythology he was believed to be the older brother of Matariki. His cosmic rising between May and June in the early morning sky signalled the beginning of winter. Which…