Prof Rangi Matamua, the man behind Matariki, 'humbled' by New Zealander of the Year win

Friday, 31 March 2023

He is a professor, an astronomer, and now he is also Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.

Professor Rangi Matamua (Tūhoe) was scrambling to find his words as he stood on stage at the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Read this story in te reo Māori and English here. / Pānuitia tēnei i te reo Māori me te reo Pākehā ki konei.

The Māori astronomer hadn’t even considered the possibility of a win after being shortlisted alongside Sir John Kirwan, Ruby Tui and the Topp Twins – Dame Jools and Dame Lynda Topp.

But on Thursday night, in a room filled with some of the best and brightest in Aotearoa, Matamua was crowned New Zealander of the Year.

“These individuals are icons of our nation and I had thought to myself, just to be named alongside these people is so humbling.

The 'man behind Matariki' Professor Rangiānehu Matamua speaks to Stuff journalist Amberleigh Jack after being named New Zealander of the Year.

* Rangiānehu Mātāmua, the man behind the stars

* Take Five: How to celebrate Matariki without becoming a hōhā

* 'Man behind Matariki', Professor Rangiānehu Matamua, named New Zealander of the Year

“To be called out, I was like, oh, my goodness, and so I was really scrambling for something to say, because I didn't think it would be me, and it still probably hasn’t sunk in yet.”

His roots can be found in the small Horowhenua town of Levin, where Matamua spent what he describes as a classic New Zealand childhood, playing rugby, surrounded by whānau.

When Matariki is seen on the horizon it signals the Māori New Year.

Boarding school came in the teenage years, followed by university. His second year of tertiary study would mark a significant point in Matamua’s life.

“My grandfather gave to me a manuscript, and it was given to him by his grandfather, and it came from a generation before him.

“It was a record on Māori astronomy from our tribal people of Tūhoe, and he handed that to me with the wish that I go out and help share that knowledge, with the belief that it will have benefits for people.”

A huge responsibility, but one Matamua has risen to the occasion of. His work led to Matariki being recognised as a public holiday and has supported the revitalisation of mātauranga Māori (traditional Māori knowledge).

It is a legacy for his whānau, but is also something he has simply always been driven and compelled to do, says Matamua.

“I've been very fortunate to have been mentored by people, having my family and my friends, so you know, even though it was me up on stage last night, it felt like it was so many people.”

It’s been a busy few years for Matamua and he doesn’t appear to have any plans to slow down.

There is a book and an app on the horizon, and he is still chief adviser to the Government for Matariki and Professor of Mātauranga Māori at Massey University.

“You know, our nation is vibrant and full of potential and activity and, you know, just being involved in all sorts of activities and events, at many different levels, is something that keeps me really, really busy.”

As for any advice for young Māori watching from afar, Matamua admits its cliché, but he wants them to know they can do anything.

“I was in a room last night with the best and brightest of our nation. There were young people, there were senior people, there were all sorts of people from different ethnicities, different diversities, different parts of the country, doing absolutely amazing things.

“All of them talked about these small moments in their lives, particularly when they had found a passion for something and just pursued it… find your passion, find the thing that you love and just pursue it.”

Matamua follows in the footsteps of Tā Tipene O’Regan who won the award last year, in 2022.