Matariki

Te Waka o Rangi is the waka that collects the souls of those that have passed throughout the year. Pohutukawa guides the waka while Taramainuku is the navigator. Each year Taramainuku casts out his net “Te Kupenga o Taramainuku” and gathers all the souls that have passed from the last rising of Matariki. As Taramainuku gathers the souls in his net they await until Matariki arises again before Taramainuku casts his net and all the souls he has collected take their place in the night sky as stars.