Matariki e ara e: Lyrics, Meaning, and Guitar Chords

There’s something special about a song that carries a whole season on its shoulders. If you’ve stumbled upon “Matariki e ara e” — whether through a lyric video, a school performance, or a playlist curated for the Māori New Year — you’ve likely felt that pull.

Lyric video views: 285,000+ · Composer: Rahera Davies · First publication year: 2025 (PDF) · Meaning of “e ara e”: Rise · Associated celestial body: Pleiades star cluster

The story behind Matariki e ara e

Rahera Davies composed this waiata, and the first published version appears in a PDF from 2025. The song quickly found its way into classrooms and community gatherings, where it’s sung to welcome the Māori New Year. According to Hail (Macandrew Bay School), the song is presented in multiple school and community resources as a waiata for Matariki celebrations.

The title itself is a command — “Matariki, rise” — which sets the tone for the entire piece. It’s not a passive observation but an active call, echoing the moment when the Pleiades appear on the horizon at dawn. A New Zealand museum source states that Matariki is also a chorus — Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

“Matariki, Matariki / E ara e” — the repetition of the opening line forms a chorus that urges the star cluster to rise. — Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

The implication: the call to rise is both astronomical and metaphorical, linking the seasonal reappearance of the Pleiades with a communal awakening.

Lyrics meaning: what do the words actually say?

The waiata’s central line — “Te kohinga whetū” — translates as “The collection of stars” in one published version, per Hail (Macandrew Bay School). That phrase connects directly to the Pleiades, which Māori know as Matariki — a tight cluster of stars that signals the new year. The broader lyric carries a sense of gathering and rising, fitting for the season of reflection and renewal.

The song’s English rendering commonly appears in educational settings, where teachers pair the Māori text with a translation. The composer’s official English version is described as an “Official English translation by the composer,” though the full text is most reliably found in the PDF source. A printed booklet version translates “E ara e” as “Rise!” — Zealandia booklet.

Full lyrics (Māori) and pronunciation tips

The complete Māori text is available in the composer’s PDF and in the modified version on the BWK S Kapahaka Waiata Blog. Key pronunciation pointers: “Matariki” is pronounced “Mah-tah-ree-kee,” “e ara e” as “eh ah-rah eh,” and “Te kohinga whetū” as “Teh koh-heen-gah wheh-too.”

The pattern: the waiata’s simplicity in Māori allows for easy repetition in classroom settings, reinforcing the seasonal message.

What does “Matariki e ara e” mean in English?

• Literal translation: “Matariki, rise!” — Zealandia booklet.
• Matariki = the Pleiades star cluster, tied to the Māori New Year — Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
• “E ara e” functions as an imperative, urging the cluster to rise.

The phrase “e ara e” is central to the waiata’s emotional impact. It’s a call to action, an invitation for Matariki to appear and usher in the new year. In the context of Māori tradition, this rising is not just astronomical — it’s a spiritual and communal event that marks a time for remembrance and planning.

The Pleiades’ dawn rising in June signals the start of the Māori New Year — a moment the waiata captures with its repeated call to “rise.” — Te Papa astronomer (via museum source)

The catch: without the cultural context, a listener could mistake the call for a simple greeting rather than a seasonal marker.

Where can I find an English translation of Matariki e ara e?

If you’re looking for the English text, the most reliable route is the published PDF from 2025, which includes the composer’s own translation. The song has also been shared across school and community platforms. A modified version is published under “He Waiata Matariki – Rahera Davies (modified version)” — BWK S Kapahaka Waiata Blog. Another educational resource from Hail (Macandrew Bay School) presents the waiata with an English rendering.

Published translations vary slightly in wording, but the core meaning holds across versions — a call to rise, a gathering of stars, and a celebration of the Māori New Year.

The takeaway: translation helps non-Māori speakers understand the cultural context, but no single published version is canon. The strongest sources remain the composer’s PDF and the Zealandia booklet.

The implication: the lack of a single authoritative translation underscores the waiata’s role as a living tradition adapted in different settings.

What is the cultural significance of the waiata?

Matariki e ara e is more than a song — it’s a seasonal marker. Matariki (the Pleiades) appears in the chest of Ranginui, the sky father, and its rising signals the first month of the Māori year. School resources often pair the waiata with hangi and Matariki celebrations — Mairtown Kindy Blog. The song is used to teach children about the star cluster and the values of the season: remembrance, gratitude, and forward planning.

The waiata’s structure reflects the Māori worldview, where celestial bodies are ancestors and guides. The Pleiades are not just stars; they’re a source of identity and timing. A Te Papa resource frames Matariki as the Pleiades star cluster, connecting the song to the broader cultural calendar — Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster, and its heliacal rising combined with the moon sighting marks the beginning of the Māori New Year. — Museums Wellington

The catch: without this cultural framing, the song could be reduced to a mere melody rather than a timed invitation to celebrate the new year.

Why Matariki is tied to the Pleiades

• Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster.
• It rises in the chest of Ranginui — Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
• Its appearance marks the first month of the Māori year.

The cultural weight here is clear: Matariki e ara e is a song of timing, place, and belonging. The Pleiades connection isn’t decorative — it’s the reason the song exists.

Is there a chord sheet or guitar tutorial?

Chords and performance details are less documented than the lyrics themselves. The song has been performed in schools and community groups, but no dedicated chord sheet appears in the verified sources. What’s available is the lyric video, which has over 285,000 views, and the PDF song sheet that includes the text and translation.

If you’re planning to teach or perform the waiata, the reliable starting point is the composer’s PDF. For additional context, the modified version on BWK S Kapahaka Waiata Blog offers an alternative arrangement. The song’s accessibility in schools suggests it’s designed to be sung in a group — a waiata that rises with voices, not just with stars.

The pattern: the lack of published chord sheets points to the song’s predominantly oral and community-based transmission.

What’s uncertain about Matariki e ara e

• Exact year of composition before the 2025 PDF publication.
• Original sheet music availability outside the PDF.
• Official English translation by the composer — the PDF’s translation is described as official but hasn’t been independently verified.
• Whether the song is used in official Māori New Year celebrations by iwi authorities.

These gaps don’t undermine the waiata’s value, but they remind us that the song is still emerging into wider awareness.

Related reading: Matariki waiata lyrics and meaning · Matariki Māori New Year

Frequently asked questions

Summary: the rising call of a new year

Matariki e ara e is a waiata that does what its title asks — it rises. It lifts the Pleiades into view and invites the community to follow. For anyone learning or teaching the song, the key is to treat it as a seasonal event, not just a lyric. The stars will rise again next June, and the song will be there to greet them.