This Matariki, we hear from Te Rina Ransfield ~ who has been spending time in kōrero with our Club Rubettes over the past few weeks.
Through these conversations, Te Rina has invited us to think more deeply about Matariki ~ looking to those who came before us, grounding ourselves in the present + considering what we hope to carry forward. Here, Te Rina continues the kōrero with our wider Rubette community, sharing her reflections on looking within the seasons of our own lives...
Every year, when Matariki rises before dawn, many of us instinctively look to the stars. We admire their beauty, gather with whānau, share kai and celebrate the beginning of a new Māori year.
But over time, I've come to realise that Matariki is just as much about looking within as it is about looking up.
For me, Matariki offers something we rarely give ourselves permission to do in the busyness of everyday life: to pause.
To reflect.
To remember.
To dream.
Rather than seeing the Māori New Year as simply another celebration on the calendar, I see it as an invitation to journey through three interconnected spaces: our past, our present and our future.
Honouring the Past
Pōhutukawa is the star that holds those who have passed beyond this world.
Every Matariki, she gently reminds us that grief and love are inseparable. We remember the people who shaped us, the lessons they left behind, the laughter we still hear, and the strength we continue to carry because of them.
For many of us, remembrance isn't only found in photographs or memories. It lives in treasured taonga, treasured recipes, family traditions, songs, stories and the values handed down through generations.
Although those we love may no longer walk beside us, they continue to influence the way we move through the world.
Remembering them isn't about remaining in the past.
It's about recognising that our past is part of the foundation we continue to build upon.
Living in the Present
If remembering is one part of Matariki, then presence is another.
The stars Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi, Waitī and Waitā remind us that our wellbeing has always been connected to the environment that surrounds us. They speak of the food we grow, the food we gather, our freshwater, our oceans and the intricate relationships that sustain life.
Waipunarangi and Ururangi remind us to notice the weather, the changing seasons and the subtle environmental shifts that influence how we live.
Matariki has never been solely about observing the sky.
It is about observing life itself.
It asks us to become more aware.
How are we nourishing ourselves?
How are we caring for our environment?
How are we showing up for the people we love?
Even the simple rituals of everyday life can become intentional acts of presence. The way we prepare for the day, the clothes we choose to wear, the care we take in presenting ourselves to the world, these are all small reminders that we are worthy of care, attention and respect. They become expressions of how we choose to meet the season we are currently living in.
Dreaming Towards the Future
Then there is Hiwa-i-te-Rangi.
The star many of us associate with hopes, dreams and aspirations.
I often hear people speak about making wishes at Matariki, but I think Hiwa-i-te-Rangi invites us into something much deeper than wishing.
She asks us to become active participants in creating the future we hope to see.
As a mother, my aspirations are not only for myself but for the generations who follow.
As a businesswoman, I hope to create opportunities that strengthen our people and communities.
As a Maramataka Māori Practitioner and Researcher, I hope to continue sharing mātauranga in ways that honour our tūpuna while supporting our communities of today.
Dreams are beautiful.
But dreams also require intention.
Each small step we take today becomes part of the future we're creating tomorrow.
A Shared Reflection
Recently, I had the privilege of spending time with the wonderful RUBY team. Together we reflected on three simple questions:
- Who are you going to remember and how are you going to honour them?
- How are you going to practise being more present?
- What are your hopes and dreams for your future?
This is what some of the team had to say:
Ashleigh, OpEx Coordinator
Past ~ Who are you going to remember and how are you going to honour them?
My Nanas ~ Both had such nurturing, kind spirits. I have fond memories of cooking/baking with them, spending time with them drawing, painting. They both loved to encourage my creative spark and helped me find comfort in it. This Matariki I will spend time on those aspects of myself they passed down to me, and share that with my loved ones.
Present ~ How are you going to practise being more present?
Switching off, Looking up, Going for a walk ~ no phones allowed! Exist outside of a screen! Quite literally TOUCH GRASS.
Future ~ What are your hopes and dreams for your future?
Te Rina's words really inspired me to tap into my spirituality, I would love to connect with that side of myself and follow that in my daily life. Continuing to understand myself more, give myself grace. Treasure my role as a daughter, sister, partner, aunty, niece and continue to nurture those relationships with my family <3
Ruby, Offshore Production Coordinator
Future ~ What are your hopes and dreams for your future?
To see the more of the world, experience different cultures and see difference places. Also my partners health to improve.
Anna-Lise, Sales + Marketing Director
Past ~ Who are you going to remember and how are you going to honour them?
My father who passed away in December 2025. We’ll be together at his favourite place, toasting him with a glass of Scotch.
Present ~ How are you going to practise being more present?
My phone is the greatest issue in the way of me being more present - digital detox time!
Future ~ What are your hopes and dreams for your future?
- Happy, healthy children and family
- A good time!
- Our RUBY + De Vere Apparel evolution
Bailey, Brand Manager
Past ~ Who are you going to remember and how are you going to honour them?
I’m going to remember my Nan and honour her by spending quality time with my Dad and family, sharing and reflecting on the memories we made together and reading one of her favourite books.
Present ~ How are you going to practise being more present?
By spending less time on my devices, getting outside more and making time for the people who make me feel good and bring happiness to my life. I want to be better at appreciating the moments I’m in, rather than always thinking about what’s coming next.
Future ~ What are your hopes and dreams for your future?
I hope for good health and happiness for my family and the people I love. For myself, I hope to stay inquisitive about the world, to keep learning and growing, and to find contentment in what I have while still being excited about what’s to come.
Their responses were thoughtful, honest and deeply human.
Although everyone's answers were different, they shared something in common.
We are all carrying memories.
We are all navigating the present.
We are all hoping for something.
Perhaps that's why Matariki continues to resonate so deeply.
It reminds us that life moves in seasons.
Some seasons ask us to remember.
Some ask us to be fully present.
Others ask us to dream.
The beauty is that none exists without the others.
As Matariki rises once again, my hope is that we don't simply look up at the stars.
Instead, we allow them to remind us of the seasons unfolding within ourselves.
To honour where we've come from.
To embrace where we are.
And to step forward with intention into all that is yet to come.
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