Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - Learning Through Matariki

Episode Date: June 19, 2025

In this Matariki special, we chat with Stacey Morrison about what Matariki’s all about – the meaning behind the stars, why it matters, and how we can honour it. Mānawatia a Matariki See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The John O'Bannon Megan podcast thanks to HelloFresh, your home advantage for delicious midweek dinners everyone will love. Kia ora, welcome to the podcast. It is Matariki today, which is a public holiday here in New Zealand. It's the Māori name for a cluster of stars rises in midwinter and for many Māori it means the start of a new year, which is pretty cool. We've got a holiday now, recognizing that in New Zealand. And we wanted to find out a bit more about Matariki for a special podcast and we're joined by Stacey Morrison. She was

honored for her outstanding contribution to radio the New Zealand Radio Awards just a week ago and maybe given that it's probably too good for this program. Morena and kia ora to Stacey Morrison welcome. This is not what we're supposed to be talking about. So we're just going to drill down your career, your illustrious career. No Stacey, I didn't actually get to see it. I haven't seen you since you won that. So congratulations. It is so well deserved.

Oh, thank you. I bet you people are listening going, what? Stacey's like, can we stop talking about this now? Let's talk about Matariki, of course. The Māori New Year. Now, if people don't know what it is, can you explain it to us? Yes. So, Matariki is a cluster of stars that is known around the world. Around the Pacific, there are names that are similar like Makahiki. And also, yeah, well, Subaru. Subaru is probably, you know, like your car, your Subaru.

That actually recognizes the Matariki cluster. So around the world, it's recognized as quite a fascinating star cluster. And what happens is that it disappears from our view for about a month. And that's called the setting of Matariki, about a month ago. And then when it comes back, that's when it lines up with the Tangaroa moon a particular nice

full moon phase and we say okay this is the new year and it's been like that for centuries but we've just kind of recovered this wonderful opportunity to really be in the cold, one degree, here in Ōhākūne, and really be thankful for everything we've had in the last year, and look forward to the year ahead. So it's kind of like a time for people to reflect, right? To look at, as you say, the last year, but also look ahead and maybe set some goals, or think about what they want to achieve over the next 12 months. Yeah, exactly.

And also it's really related to environment so different stars of the cluster relate to different parts of the environment say fresh water and then sea water and our experts you know could look at the cluster and go oh there's going to be a lot of for instance rain this year or winds which would be helpful to know that because it's been a little bit over the place but also to go okay the crops in the ground are represented by the star Tupuanuku and so that's a good time for us to feast together and go oh beautiful roast pūmara is there anything better and just really be present and in the moment and mindful of you know being happy that we can be together that we have kai not everyone in the world does you know those kind of that we can be together, that we have kai, not everyone in the world does, you know, those kind of things.

So it's quite a mindful kind of practice, but you can make it as personal and as homely as you'd like to. That's probably the best thing that we want to get across. Because it became a public holiday in 2022, which is the first holiday to recognize te ao Māori. So that must have meant a whole world. Yeah, I think the first indigenous holiday actually around the world. So like you say, it's really significant. It will change slightly just like Easter does actually in relation to the moon and in our case the stars. And I think it's just something you can go, well this is definitely from here. And so that means it's for all of us and now we have this day in this way to celebrate. We have this broadcast that is going across basically lots of

different platforms simultaneously tomorrow morning at 5 45 it's starting and particularly because we're here in O'ha Kune the iwi from here also recognise Puanga which is another really bright, the seventh brightest star we can see and so that's their way of going here by Ruapehu. This is actually the star we can see best and they have all these different ways of incorporating both Matariki and Puanga and I've just seen the rehearsal and it's beautiful and it has our subtitles as well so that people can follow along which is actually really special because you don't usually get that with any other karakia you know

there's people who are experts and you go okay if you are fluent you can understand most of it but maybe not even all of it but to have it was just means like wow we're really getting an insight into the depth of feeling and emotion and memory and then forward planning that is all part of Matariki maapuanga as we've said this year. What does it mean for you personally because I know you're doing the broadcast but your family your whanau I think I saw they were in Australia so they they've gone away, right? No, that was actually, that was a little bit... Oh, okay, so they're around.

Everything you think. Yeah, creep to stay away from creeps like you. I see your family are in Australia. Oh, hey, I was doing some thorough research for the chat this morning, guys. I love it. Thank you. I mean, don't worry Don't worry, I know about all your family and how embarrassed your daughters are by your side. Not about my father right now, it's about yours alright. Yes exactly, about us all being together. The thing was, that actually happened a couple of weeks ago, but it takes a while to eat it real. Yeah I'll go through it after, yeah. It's a bloody nightmare.

Especially when you're busy getting radio awards and things like that. Yeah, but so we are actually going to be together. Scotty and my girls have just had a hotapu in Auckland. My son is back in Australia though. And then Scotty's coming here tomorrow. So he's going to do his stuff for Te Karere TV show, Marae TV show as well. And the thing is there's lots of his mates here so it's kind of perfect. I mean this is a tragic, like Megan can you relate to this, the one way that we're going to get a night in hotel together

is for work. I know! Yeah yeah, I love it. So if people want to you know celebrate and reflect and you know to take part in Matariki celebrations wherever they are, what would you suggest? Well, just jumping on this broadcast, and even if six o'clock in the morning is too early for you, there is going to be lots of replays. And I just think if you can, maybe you usually get up and you have a quiet moment to yourself, it's very often, so if you just have that in front of you, you'll probably just feel it, you don't even need to kind of have to work, just feel it, and then just have a moment for yourself and go, oh okay right, this next Matariki, what would I like things to look like for me, and so that's one thing to do, and as I say definitely have kai together with people you care about. Think of maybe people you've lost in the last year. So it's a really good way, really good platform,

I guess, of release as well. You know, like, you know you're not the only one who's missing someone in the back who are particularly grieving this year. I always think Matariki's a really nice, safe and sharing way to kind of engage with that and go, look, we all, you know, we have these human experiences together and here we have this particular sort of practice that can help us, oh, okay, I really need to release some emotion and

I think it's a way to do it. Oh, well, Stacey, thank you so much for your time. It's always lovely to talk and you and Scotty enjoy your work- funded second honeymoon. Thank you. In one degree. Exactly. Getting up at four in the morning. Lovely.

I appreciate your time. Kapa, thank you.