Significance of Puanga
Te Mana
o Puanga
Puanganui-o-te-rangi is the name we use to acknowledge the mana Puanga has from the last month to the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The following gives a brief overview of why the mana of Puanga is significant.
After sunset, look west and you should find Puanga to the left of Tautoru. Puanga is important at this time as Puanga prepares the path for the dead to go to Rarohenga. Puanga does this in conjunction with Tautoru and Pūtara.
This is also when Puanga starts to ‘tahitahi – to sweep’. This is a reference to clearing things of the past year as well as physically cleaning so there is no distraction as people enter into wānanga over the winter season.
Puanga –setting at the end of autumn
Credit: Tala-Lee Brown
Puanga rises to signal the new year for Te Tai Hauāuru iwi. Yes, some iwi in Te Tai Hauāuru can see Matariki, but as noted in other sections of this website, Puanga gives a better read in conjunction with the impact of the westerly winds for our part of the country. This is why Puanga is important.
Puanga – rising in the new year
Te Ngāhae-o-te-rangi is the waka
Puehurangi is the paddle
Puanga and Whakaahu are the captains
Ko Te Ngāhae-o-te-rangi te waka
Ko Puehurangi te hoe
Ko Puanga Whakaahu ngā tāngata
Puanga and Whakaahu are some distance from each other in the sky. However, they are sometimes referred to as Te Tokorua a Taingahue. Together, they make a whata in the morning sky that depicts what the kai will be like in Spring, known as Te Whata-a-Taingahue. When this whata is recognised, then Te Tokorua a Taingahue is Whakaahu-nuku (Castor) and Whakaahu-rangi (Pollux).
Puanga and Whakaahu also pair up to initiate the transition from the cold wehenga (division of the year) to the warm wehenga. A pepeha for this time is:
Puanga Whakaahu (Rigel and Castor) – rising in the third month
Puanga Hori isn’t a bright star. It rises in the second month and is below Takurua. It is a star connected to te Kāhui Takurua (the winter stars). It recognises that the new year festivities are finished – kua hori ngā mahi o te tau hou.
Puanga Hori (Procyon) – rising in the second month
Puanga is referred to as Puanganui-o-te-rangi. This is because of the influence of Puanga in association with affiliates Puanga Hori and Whakaahu over a four month period.
Another variation to this name is Puanganui-a-rangi.