Teach the Maramataka and the Māori months in your classroom with the help of our teaching resource and classroom poster.
Learning areas and strands
Components of the solar system, cultural world-views, traditions and values
Education type
Education resource
Suitable for
Ages 5–10
The Maramataka is the traditional Māori lunar calendar. It was used to guide planting, harvesting, fishing, and hunting. Maramataka translates as ‘moon rotating’.
Use this poster to talk about the activities that traditionally take place in each month of the year. Activities for each season are suggested to engage children both and home and at school.
The Maramataka learning resource includes suggested activities that explore the topic of Maramataka. Activities are adaptable and can be used as a starting point for further exploration of the topic.
The maramataka is a planting and fishing monthly almanac. For most iwi, the lunar months begin with the new moon (Whiro), but for others it begins with the full moon (Rākaunui). The start of each month is aligned to the morning rising of particular stars.
The Māori calendar begins in Pipiri (June/July) with the reappearance of the Matariki star cluster signalling the New Year. Learn the names of the months and nights in the traditional Maramataka.