Matariki
Matariki is the Maori name for the star cluster known as the Pleiades. Traditionally for Maori when it appeared just before dawn in late May or early June, it signaled the start of the Maori New Year. Different tribes celebrated Matariki at different times. For some it was when Matariki rose in May/June.
Matariki literally means the ‘eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). As the myth says, when Ranginui and Papatūānuk were separated by their children. Tāwhirimātea became so angry that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.
You can either look at A beginner's guide to finding Matariki on Te Ara's blog or Help finding Matariki on the Matariki events site. 2015 images of Matariki in Auckland taken by Dayne Laird's 2015 Matariki images on facebook photo album. Youtube also features video clips about Matariki.
Matariki is celebrated with education, remembrance and the planting of new trees and crops and signals new beginnings. Matariki was the optimum of time for new harvests, and ceremonial offerings to the land-based gods Rongo, Uenuku and Whiro to ensure good crops for the coming year.