Maramataka means 'the moon turning,' and is the Māori lunar calendar. Time was marked by Maramataka and was consulted for almost any activity taking place in the community. Some days or nights of the Maramataka were better to do certain activities than other days. For example, fishing or convening important hui or conducting rituals, such as baptisms.
According to the maramataka, or Māori lunar calendar, the winter month of Hereturi-kōkā is so cold that ‘the scorching effect of fire is seen on the knees of man.’ But as the moon continues to wax and wane, the earth warms up and by the summer month of Kohi-tātea, fruit hangs ripe...
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Māori lunar calendar is called the Maramataka, which literally means the turning of the moon. It marks the phases of the moon in a lunar month. Each night, which also typically marks a day, was given a name and over time each day/night was accompanied by information guiding fishing, gardening, and other activities in the natural world.
The Spinoff
Many indigenous cultures around the world have their own version of the maramataka which aligns with the phases of the moon, rather than the common Gregorian calendar. Māori and our Pasifika cousins are reviving and reconnecting with the maramataka to restore systems and knowledge of agricultural productivity, marine and forest gathering, resource management, health, healing and daily practices that provide sustenance for well-being.
The lunar component of the maramataka recognises the different phases of the moon, with each moon phase named with multiple references to such things as agricultural, environmental and ecological information for each phase.