Aotearoa New Zealand has four seasons: summer, autumn, winter, and spring. Our seasons are opposite to countries in the northern hemisphere — when it's summer here, it's winter in Europe!
🗓️ The Four Seasons
☀️
Raumati (Summer)
Dec – Feb
Hot, long days, beach time!
Nature: Plants flowering, birds nesting
🍂
Ngahuru (Autumn)
Mar – May
Cooler, leaves fall, harvest time
Nature: Leaves change colour, migration
❄️
Hōtoke (Winter)
Jun – Aug
Cold, short days, rain and snow
Nature: Matariki rises, animals hibernate
🌸
Kōanga (Spring)
Sep – Nov
Warmer, flowers blooming, lambing
Nature: New growth, birds singing
🌐 Why Do We Have Seasons?
Earth is tilted at about 23.5°. As Earth orbits the sun:
- When our part tilts toward the sun → Summer (more direct sunlight, longer days)
- When our part tilts away → Winter (less direct sunlight, shorter days)
It takes one year (365 days) for Earth to orbit the sun completely.
🌿 Te Maramataka Māori
Māori traditionally used the maramataka (lunar calendar) which divides the year into different periods based on natural signs:
- Rising of Matariki marks the Māori New Year (June/July)
- Seasons based on fishing, planting, and harvesting cycles
- Natural indicators: bird behaviour, flowering plants, star positions
✏️ Activities
Complete for each season:
- What do you wear? ___________
- What activities do you do? ___________
- What weather is common? ___________
- What happens in nature? ___________
My favourite season is ___ because:
👩🏫 Teacher Notes
- Science: Planet Earth — seasons
- Te Ao Māori: Maramataka, Matariki