I am Pōhutukawa, the oldest star in the Matariki cluster. I am associated with those who have died. When the Matariki star cluster is in the night sky, we should take time to remember those who have passed away - particularly in the preceding year.

Te Mauri te Ora / The Life Force and Wellbeing

The concept of mauri is central to Māori understanding of the environment. Mauri is considered to be the essence that provides life to all living things, giving health to a person or place.

Passed down from the primal parents, all things have a mauri – Including inanimate objects – so it can be found in people, animals, fauna, fish, waterways, rocks, mountains.

Ko te mauri he mana atua, he mana hei whakahua i te kai, hei pupuri i te kai, kei riro ki etahi atu wahi; mauri ki uta, mauri ki te wai, ki nga awa, ki nga roto, mehemea he maunga kore manu, he ngahere kore manu, a he awa kore kai (ika, tuna, aha ranei) ka whakanohoia he mauriora.

This passage suggests that mauri is godly power that can affect food gathering and can be found inland and in waterways. If there is a mountain or forest with no birds or a river with no fish then the mauri is depleted. This can be restored unless the place is dead.

Mauri connects all living things, and so is the binding force between the physical and the spiritual. When the mauri is extinguished, this is associated with death.