Tātai Aroraki: Māori Astronomy and the Stories Written in the Stars

When Māori look up into the night sky, they see more than just stars and planets. They see a living, breathing map of knowledge – a cosmic thread that connects them to the whenua (land), to the natural world, and to the wisdom of their tīpuna (ancestors).

This ancestral knowledge is called Tātai Aroraki – Māori astronomy – and it has guided generations for centuries.

The Sky as a Roadmap

For Māori, the night sky is a roadmap – rich with meaning and direction. It marked not only where they were in the world, but when they were in the year. Different constellations and celestial movements signalled the right times for harvesting, planting, fishing and hunting.

The stars helped determine when the birds would be ready for eating, when fish would run, and when the soil was ready to grow kai (food). The sky was also used to read weather patterns, anticipate changes in the seasons, and navigate vast oceans long before modern instruments.

In this way, Tātai Aroraki was more than just observation – it was survival, science, spirituality and storytelling, all woven together in the skies above.

Ancestral Connections

Looking to the stars was also a way for Māori to connect with the past. The movements of celestial bodies were tied to pūrākau (stories) passed down through generations. These stories taught values, explained natural phenomena, and kept cultural knowledge alive.

Each iwi, hapū and whānau may have their own unique interpretations and stories connected to the night sky – and these perspectives are a treasured part of Aotearoa’s cultural identity.

Experience Tātai Aroraki at Dark Sky Project

At Dark Sky Project, we’re proud to share the wonder of the night sky through both scientific discovery and Māori knowledge systems.

Our Dark Sky Experience tour brings to life the stories of the universe, merging tātai aroraki with cutting-edge astrophysics in a one-of-a-kind experience. You'll explore the skies through a uniquely Aotearoa lens – seeing the stars not just as points of light, but as keepers of time, place, and ancestral memory.