Two little girls names Hana and Puanga were the very best of friends, living with their whanau on the West Coast of New Zealand. They did everything together through the seasons of the year, but often the winter would creep up on them and their families couldn’t get their crops in on time.

Filled with worry, Hana talks to her best friend as they stare out into the night sky. Puanga tells her a secret. She is really a star who is visiting Aotearoa (New Zealand) to have adventures. She used to live with her cousins, the Matariki sisters. They warn that the cold is coming.

Hana had never seen or heard of the Matariki sisters, and wondered if it was because of the mountain and hills surrounding them. Puanga has an idea!

A wonderful book to show Matariki, (The Maori New Year) to young readers. Its also a tale showing the Seasons, friendship and a more traditional way of life. Loved it.

Author – Kirsty Wadsworth

Illustrator – Munro Te Whata

Picture Book

(Matariki, Maori New Year, NZ, New Zealand, Seasons, Stars, Maori Legend, Friendship)