There are many legends about the star cluster Matariki. One of the most popular is that the star Matariki is the whaea (mother), surrounded by her six daughters, Tupu-ā-nuku, Tupu-ā-rangi, Waipunarangi, Waitī and Waitā, and Ururangi.
Matariki and her daughters journey across the sky each year to visit their tupuna wahinewahine great grandmother, PapatūānukuPapatūānuku Mother Earth.
During this visit, each of the stars help Papatūānuku to prepare for the year to come, using their unique qualities or gifts to bring maurimauri life force or energy to her different environments. While spending time with their kuiakuia grandmother, they also learn new skills and gain new knowledge from her, which they guard and pass on to others.