Four Square Kelburn - Kelburn

4.1/5 based on 8 reviews

About Four Square Kelburn

What is Matariki? 

  • Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster.
  • The rise of Matariki signals the start of the Māori new year, and marks a spiritual and cultural moment in the calendar
  • Matariki is visible at a specific time of the year and varies from year to year (usually June/July). This year, the rise will be best seen at dawn from 24 -29 June 2022.
  • 24 June 2022 is a national public holiday in New Zealand. 

 

What is the importance of Matariki in Māori culture

It’s a time to celebrate new life, to remember those who’ve passed, spend time with whānau and friends, and to plan for the future. Particularly of importance to our tūpuna (ancestors), was that they would look to Matariki for guidance with their harvesting as each star has a certain significance over well-being and environment.

 

The story of Matariki

The full name of Matariki is Ngā Mata o te Ariki (Eyes of god) in reference to Tāwhirimatea and the creation of the world. Tāwhirimatea (the god of storms and wind) fought against his brother Tāne Mahuta (god of the forest) who was trying to separate their parents Rangi and Papa (sky father and earth mother) at the beginning of time. Rangi and Papa were locked in a tight embrace meaning there was no light or life on earth. Tāne Mahuta won the battle to separate their parents and Tāwhirimatea in his pain and anger upon losing, crushed his eyes and flung them up to the galaxy, creating the star cluster Matariki. Now Tāwhitimatea the blind, unseeing god explores the land going in all directions (the wind).

 

Fun facts:

  • There is some confusion around whether there are 7 or 9 stars in the Matariki cluster. According to leading Māori astronomer, Dr Rangi Matamua, there are 9 visible stars.
  • The Greek equivalent Pleiades is known as the Seven Sisters, but even in this cluster there are actually 9 stars (the 7 daughters of Atlas and Pleione)
  • Many iwi view Matariki as the Mother and her children (all others stars except Pōhutukawa and Hiwa-i-te-rangi)
  • Not all iwi celebrate Matariki at the same time and some iwi are not able to see Matariki at all and instead celebrate the New Year with a star named Puanga – places like Taranaki, Whanganui and on the West Coast of the South Island.
  • Māori didn’t use a Gregorian solar calendar but followed a lunar calendar called the Maramataka where different activities took place during different phases of the moon. For example certain times of the month were better for planting and others for fishing or conducting rituals. Specifically, eel fishing is rarely done during a full moon because the bright light would not allow the eel to hunt due to its prey being able to see it. 
  • In 2020 the Matariki cluster signalled a long dry summer... which ended up being very true!

 

Contact Four Square Kelburn

Address :

Four Square Kelburn 97 Upland Road, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand

Phone : 📞 +799
Postal code : 6012
Website : http://www.foursquare.co.nz/lower-north-island/wellington/kelburn
Categories :

Four Square Kelburn 97 Upland Road, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
G
Gregory Reinhardt on Google

Nice neighborhood grocery store. Not a huge selection of everything but most anything you might need.
R
Ross Locincam on Google

What a fantastic shop. Big variety and sharp prices. Such a cool gem in a beaut shopping zone near the Botanic Gardens.
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Pette Boo on Google

Great selection for a corner shop and very reasonably priced. Excellent choice of fresh fruit and veg. In a lovely part of Kelburn.
A
Aleisha on Google

If I could rate this store a 0 I would. My partner went to the store 8.20 and was told the eftpos machine wasn't working and if he had cash, which he didn't, so he asked where the nearest cash machine was which he was told was next to the shop. After saying he would go and get cash, he went out and the cashier locked the store and turned the light off. My partner walked in the rain to the store, and was a paying customer who was shut out at 8.30 even when the stores closing times are at 9pm. Terrible customer service.
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Rogue NZ on Google

This place is awesome. Needed last minute stuff on a public holiday and they had everything right down to the chocolate buttons. I was surprised and impressed at the range and not crippled by the cost.
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Ákos Muráti on Google

Great all-in-one grocery store with friendly staff. The prices are slightly higher then in the city, but still good for not to go too far if you need something quick nearby.
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Marc Hagedorn on Google

Some goods were "Incorrectly" ticketed as being on special. When I queried the checkout price vs the displayed ticket price with the manager he was very hostile and rude.
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Zsuzsa Vadasz on Google

The store has all the basic things you might need from cleaning produce to fresh vegetables and fruits. It's not among the cheapest places you can shop but it's conveniently open till the evening if you need anything in the neighborhood.

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