Separating Fact From Folklore
A Scientific Evaluation
of the Māori Lunar Calendar
A website by Sociologist Robert Bartholomew
Mātauranga Māori contains a treasure trove of wisdom that has been gleaned over generations through observation of the natural world and deserves respect, but many Kiwi institutions and media outlets are reluctant to flag dubious claims about indigenous knowledge for fear of causing offence or being seen as politically incorrect.
With the lack of open and evidence-based discussion, unproven and misleading claims about the Calendar abound in New Zealand schools, the news media, and online. Protecting ideas from critique undermines scientific rigour and creates an environment where ideas are accepted not on the strength of the evidence but on their cultural or political significance. Mātauranga Māori should be held to the same standard of scrutiny as all other knowledge systems.
This website was created to be a source of trusted information on the Calendar that is based on mainstream science. New Zealand students, teachers, and the public deserve nothing less.
Claim
Mental Health Crises in Māori Spike during the Whiro Phase the Moon
Who made the Claim: Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Member of Parliament for Te Pāti Māori representing Hauraki-Waikato.
Sources: New Zealand Parliament, “Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill – Third Reading,” Hansard Debates, 23 October 2024. See also: Donna-Lee Biddle (2020). “From Tangihanga to Maramataka: Using Māori Astronomy in Mental Health. Stuff (New Zealand), August 2; Te Rina Kowahi (2020). “How Māori Use Maramataka to Care for Mental Health Issues and how the Practice will be Incorporated into Treatment by Māori Health Authority.” Stuff (New Zealand), July 3, 2022.
What was said: Maipi-Clarke stated: “And I'd like to reference some of the work that I did prior to coming into Parliament, which was to educate our whānau and kura [schools] around the maramataka … and how… every day on Whiro in August we have the highest” rates of the most severe mental health crises. “...my job was to go around to many different kura throughout the motu [island] and educate teachers through professional learning and development workshops… around maramataka Māori being a form of rongoā [traditional Māori healing and medicine] for mental health crises.”
🔵 Unsubstantiated. A recent study in the New Zealand Medical Journal found no significant correlation with lunar phases and the most severe mental health crises either for the overall population or the sub-group of Māori - which is in line with similar studies that have been conducted in other parts of the world.
Verdict
Supporting Information: Dr David Cumin, a Senior Lecturer in Anaesthesiology at the University of Auckland, Dr Nicholas Matzke, Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland, and Rikki Solomon of Turuki Health Care in Auckland (2025). New Zealand Medical Journal 138(1608):24-30.
Claim
Students Learn Better during Certain Phases of the Māori Lunar Calendar
Who made the Claim: Several Kiwi public school teachers and at least one journalist
Source: Wairangi Heke (2022). “A Return to Wisdom – Understanding Maramataka Maaori.” AKO: The Journal for Education Professionals. This is a publication by the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa, one of the country’s largest education unions. See also: Heeni Collins (2021). “Te Maramataka: A Way to Live and Know.” AKO: The Journal for Education Professionals (Summer); Rutherford, Liam (2021). “Looking to the Opportunity Ahead.” AKO: The Journal for Education Professionals.
What was said:
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Journalist Wairangi Heke states that the Māori Lunar Calendar “gives us guidelines that indicate which lunar phases are more or less advantageous to embark on certain activities.”
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At the Te Wharekura oo Arowhenua School in Invercargill teacher Desmond Tioke “uses the Calendar to plan sports activities to coincide with ‘high energy days,’ while more sedate activities are conducted during ‘lower energy phases.’”
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Teacher Mykaela Ripia at Te Kura Maaori oo Ngaa Tapuwae School based in Mangere, Auckland states: “Planning structures and methods for each classroom are built into our daily routine through maramataka. We have recorded huge positive behaviour shifts in autistic children and boys, and increased staff wellbeing through observing high and low energy days and implementing those into our planning school wide.”
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Teacher Michelle Haua of the Hiruharama School near Ruatoria told a reporter that she plans class activities to fit with the Moon’s energy levels as predicted by the Māori Lunar Calendar. “If it’s a low energy day, I might not test that week. We’ll do meditation, mirimiri [massage]. I slowly build their learning up, and by the time of high energy days we know the kids will be energetic.”
Verdict
❌ False. There is no direct scientifically established link between lunar phase and learning. The supposed mechanism appears to be the assertion that during a ‘high energy’ phase students may be inclined to be less focused. While there is some evidence suggesting minor effects of lunar phases on sleep patterns, these do not translate into significant impacts on cognitive functions like learning and focus.
Claim
Māori Violence Peaks during Certain Phases of the Maramataka
Who made the Claim: Cheryl Armstrong, Whiria te Muka advisor.
(*Whiria te Muka is an initiative between the New Zealand Police and local iwi in Northland aimed at reducing domestic violence).
Source: “Worrying Spike in Family Violence.” The Northland Age, March 22, 2021.
What was said: In March 2021, after a surge in family violence reports, Armstrong not only blamed the problem on alcohol and trauma, but the Moon. “The fact that we have just come out of the Tamatea days on the Māori maramataka, and the unsettled energy of these days, may also have had an impact on the seriousness of the physical assaults reported.”
Verdict
🔵 Unsubstantiated. The link between lunar phase and crime/violence is unsubstantiated, but the common belief that there is a link can be explained as a reflection of cultural myths and cognitive biases. Confirmation bias could be a factor – the tendency to notice and remember events that support pre-existing biases, stereotypes and beliefs while downplaying or disregarding events that contradict such beliefs. This can lead people to over-emphasize instances of violence or crime during a certain lunar phases and to ignore the many times it passed by uneventfully.
Scientific Perspective: See: Teresa Biermann et al. (2009). “Relationship Between Lunar Phases and Serious Crimes of Battery: A Population-based Study.” Comprehensive Psychiatry 50(6):573-577.
Claim
Harvesting by the Maramataka Will Help with Drying Plants
Who made the Claim: Taranaki farmer Nick Collins
Source: Smith, Alison (2023). “Can Māori Knowledge of Moon Phases Help Farm Resilience? Bay of Plenty Farmers Gather to Learn.” Bay of Plenty Times, July 14.
What was said: In 2023, Taranaki farmer Nick Collins told the Bay of Plenty Times: “With hay, we found it cures better on the new moon, or after the full moon, because there are lower moisture levels in the pasture… Leading up to the full moon is the active phase, which was a good time for sileage [fermented, high-moisture feed made from plants] because we weren’t worried about drying the plant. But we found that with hay, it seemed to dry better when the plant has lower moisture levels, and that’s [during] a waning moon.”
Verdict
❌ False. There is no scientific evidence to support these claims. The main influence on plant moisture are such factors as sunlight, temperature, humidity, wind, air flow, and precipitation.
Claim
Planting by the Maramataka Could Increase Crop Yields
Who made the claim: Numerous Maramataka practitioners
What was said: Horticulturist Cushla Paice of Rotorua asserts that a full moon is a good period for sowing seeds as it is an optimal time for them to germinate. She says that “Plants seem to be sensitive to the changes in the moon and lunar cycle.” Another popular belief is that the Tangaroa phase of the Maramataka (shortly before the new Moon) generates “the most productive energy” for plants to flourish.
Mātauranga Māori expert Rangi Mātāmua states that “rākaunui or the full moon, was a very good time within my own tribe to plant crops because the moon was thought to draw water nearer the surface, and when the seedling went into the ground, it was quick to take up that water that was closer to the surface and the crop would grow a lot larger.”
Verdict
🟡 Potentially Misleading.
There is no reliable, science-based evidence supporting a relationship between lunar phases and plant physiology. The Moon’s gravitational pull on soil moisture is negligible. While the statement by Rangi Mātāmua is accurate as he is giving his tribe's belief, some readers could infer that this belief could be true because the scientific position is omitted. This potential ambiguity could have been cleared up by including the mainstream scientific position.
Supporting Information: A 2020 review of studies examining the influence of the moon on agriculture concluded that “popular agricultural practices that are tied to lunar phases have no scientific backing.” The main influence on plant moisture is the weather such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation, while soil moisture is affected by such factors as weather conditions and evaporation.
Sources: Catherine Sylvester and Harriet Laughton (2024). “Maramataka: How three Bay of Plenty Māori Lunar Calendar Users Embrace Ancient Knowledge.” Bay of Plenty Times, June 30. “Revitalising Māori Astronomy.” Documentary Rakaunui. Full Moon. Garden Today but Don’t Fish. Scottie Productions (Auckland, New Zealand). June 17, 2016. Part of the Curious Minds New Zealand Government initiative led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor; Olga Mayoral et al. (2020). “What Has Been Thought and Taught on the Lunar Influence on Plants in Agriculture? Perspective from Physics and Biology.” Agronomy 10(7) (July 2):1-22.
Claim
Menstrual Cycles Synch with the Phases of the Maramataka
Who made the claim: The idea that menstrual cycles align with the phases of the Māori Lunar Calendar has gained increasing prominence on social media, particularly within Māori communities and holistic health circles.
Source: “What is Ehoa the App?” Accessed at: https://ehoa.app/pages/our-story; Webb-Liddall, Alice (2022). “The Moon is a Period Tracker: Using the Maramataka to Understand My Ikura,” The Spinoff, July 20; Akroyd, Maika (2023). “A New App has been Created to Enable Women to Track their īkura (menstrual cycle) in Line with the Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar).” Te Kereke, February 8.
The Facts:
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The human menstrual cycles average 27.3 days while the lunar cycles is 29.53 days. Because of this similarity, there has been speculation that menstrual cycles are influenced by the Moon, but most scientific studies have found no strong link. Furthermore, about 80 percent of women have cycles that differ significantly from this average.
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Despite anecdotal evidence and cultural beliefs, most scientific studies have failed to find a consistent link between lunar phase and menstrual cycles. For instance, a 2021 study that tracked menstrual cycle data from 529 women found “no association between the onset of menstrual cycle and lunar phase.”
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A recent study by the menstrual tracking app Clue analysed 7.5 million cycles from over a million users and found no correlation between menstruation and lunar phases. The data confirmed that periods start randomly across lunar phases, countering the belief in moon-linked ovulation or menstruation.
Verdict
❌ False. A data scientist in the Clue study, Dr. Marija Wheeler, said there is a common belief in female circles “that you ovulate around the full moon and get your period around the new moon,” but the data tells a different story. She says their findings show “that period start dates fall randomly throughout the month, regardless of the lunar phase.”
Supporting Information: Clue research team (2019). “The Myth of Moon Phases and Menstruation.” https://helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/myth-moon-phases-menstruation See also: Yoko Komada et al. (2021). “The Relationship Between the Lunar Phase, Menstrual Cycle Onset and Subjective Sleep Quality among Women of Reproductive Age,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(6):3245; Pragya Agarwal (2021). “Menstruation, Magic, and Moon Myths.” The Wellcome Collection (London), June 24 at https://wellcomecollection.org/stories/menstruation--magic-and-moon-myths
Claim
The Māori Lunar Calendar can Predict the Weather
Who made the Claim: Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Member of Parliament for Te Pāti Māori representing Hauraki-Waikato.
Source: “Energetic Young Leaders’ Debate: Next Generation of Politicians make their Case.” Newshub (TV 3 New Zealand), August 12, 2023, accessed at: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYzuCIH_98I; Wiremu Tāwhai, (2013). Living by the Moon. Wellington: Huia.
What was said:
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In 2023 she asserted that the Maramataka foretold the Napier floods of earlier that year. She stated that in relation to the Māori Calendar: “…It may sound crazy to some but there were tohu [signs] and signals in the sky that could predict that before any weather[forecaster], or horticulturalist or scientists could give us…”
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In the book Living by the Moon Wiremu Tāwhai states that the Moon can foretell long-term weather events citing a Matamataka conveyed by the elders of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui [a tribe on the North Island].
Verdict
❌ False. There is no evidence to support assertions that certain lunar phases or celestial configurations involving the Earth’s Moon can predict short or long-term weather patterns. Many factors influence the weather including atmospheric pressure, air and water temperature, cloud formation, wind, humidity, the jet stream, proximity to the ocean and other large bodies of water, high and low pressure systems, ocean currents, solar radiation, and the burning of fossil fuels.
Supporting Information: Lakshmi Kantha and Carol Clayson (2000). Numerical Models of Oceans and Oceanic Processes. NY: Academic Press; Hammond, David (2019). Tropical Bioproductivity. NY: Routledge.
Claim
During Certain Phases of the Māori Lunar Calendar, People are More Forgetful
Who made the claim: Dr Justine Camp, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor Māori for the Division of Health Sciences at the University of Otago.
Source: “Dr Justine Camp: Re-creating Traditional Knowledge for New Contexts.” This article appeared in Brain Research New Zealand News, May 26, 2021, accessed at: https://www.brainresearch.co.nz/news-events/dr-justine-camp-re-creating-traditional-knowledge-for-new-contexts/
What she reportedly said: In discussing the Calendar, she is quoted as saying that “during certain moon phases, people tend to be a bit more forgetful.”
Verdict
🔵 Unsubstantiated. There is no credible scientific evidence that any specific lunar phase directly affects human memory in a consistent or biologically plausible way. Some studies have explored whether the Moon affects sleep, and since sleep quality can influence memory, this may be where such claims originate. While a 2013 study in Current Biology suggested people might sleep slightly less during a full moon, large-scale reviews have not consistently replicated these findings, and differences observed were typically minor and not clearly linked to memory. Peer-reviewed studies in the neuroscience and psychology literature do not support a causal link between lunar phase and memory.
Supporting Information: Kantha Christian Cajochen et al. (2013). “Evidence that the Lunar Cycle Influences Human Sleep.” Current Biology 23(15):1485-1488
Claim
The Māwharu Phase of the Maramataka is Associated with Increased Sexual Energy
Who made the Claim: Māori psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr Hinemoa Elder.
Source: Elder, Hinemoa (2022). Wawata Moon Dreaming: Daily Wisdom Guided by Hina the Māori Moon. New Zealand: Penguin Random House.
What was said: Dr Elder states in her book that the Māwharu phase of the Maramataka is said to be a time of “female sexual energy… and great sex.”
Verdict
❌ False. There is no known relationship between lunar phase and sexual libido despite claims made by some wellness influencers and online sources.
Supporting Information: While some cultures such as the Toba/Qom people of Argentina have a traditional belief that moonlight can generate a rise in sexual activity, there is no credible scientific evidence to substantiate this claim.
Claim
Fishing by the Maramataka Will Increase Your Catch
Who made the Claim: This widely held belief in the New Zealand Maori community has been studied on at least two occasions – both times involving Pagrus auratus (snapper)
Source: Popular culture.
What was said: Auckland University statistics expert Dr Russell Millar used data collected from December 1st 1993 to November 30th 1994 covering the area north of Tirua Point and west of Cape Runaway on the Upper North Island. He found a weak relationship between the recreational fishing catch and both the rankings of the Bill Hohepa’s popular Māori fishing calendar and the lunar phase, but the effect was slight. In 2013, fellow statistics expert Dr Ben Stevenson teamed up with Millar on another snapper study. They write that “a fishing trip undertaken at the most successful point in the cycle will have an expected catch 13.7% greater than a corresponding trip at the opposite point of the cycle.” This works out to one extra snapper every 6.4 hours of fishing in March, or every 15 hours of fishing in August – keeping in mind that fish catch varies according to the season.
Verdict
✔️ True - although the effect is not pronounced.
Source: Russell Millar et al. (1997). “Evaluation of an Indigenous Fishing Calendar using Recreational Catch Rates of Snapper Pagrus auratus in the North Island of New Zealand.” Marine Ecology Progress Series 151:219-224; Ben Stevenson and Russell Millar (2013). “Promising the Moon? Evaluation of Indigenous and Lunar Fishing Calendars using Semiparametric Generalized Mixed Models of Recreational Catch Data.” Environmental and Ecological Statistics 20(4):591-608.
Claim
Some Phases of the Māori Calendar are Better for Planting than Others
Who made the claim: According to the Te Papa Museum “When it comes to planting crops the gravitational pull of the Moon is thought by some to influence how much water is in the soil. The amount of light coming from the moon may be another contributing factor. This may be why, according to the maramataka, there are good and bad days for planting seeds.”
Source: “Nights in the Maramataka: the Māori Lunar Month.” Te Papa Museum, https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/maori/matariki-maori-new-year/nights-maramataka-maori-lunar
Verdict
🟡 Potentially Misleading. As the scientific position is omitted, some readers could gain the impression that lunar gravity could influence the amount of water in the soil. To alleviate any misunderstandings, the Museum could have made it clear that the Moon’s gravitational pull on moisture in the soil is negligible. The main influences on plant moisture are temperature, humidity, and precipitation, while soil moisture is affected by many factors including weather conditions and evaporation; lunar phase is not one of them. Furthermore, moonlight – even from a full moon, is too low to drive photosynthesis. On a cloudless full moon night the Moon typically reflects 0.25 lux which is 400,000 times lower than the maximum amount of sunlight the Earth receives on an average day.
While a small number of studies have attempted to correlate lunar phases with crop yields and seed germination, the results are inconsistent, often take the form of anecdotes, or appear in predatory journals that do not undergo rigorous peer-review. There is no reproducible evidence that planting by specific lunar phases provides better outcomes when compared to planting according to seasonal or soil conditions. Lastly, there is no clear causal mechanism that would link phases of the Moon with plant growth.
Supporting Information: John Raven and C.S. Cockell (2006). “Influence on Photosynthesis of Starlight, Moonlight, Planetlight, and Light Pollution...” Astrobiology 6(4):668-675; Olga Mayoral et al. (2020). “What Has Been Thought and Taught on the Lunar Influence on Plants in Agriculture? Perspective from Physics and Biology.” Agronomy 10(7) (July 2):1-22.
Claim
The Moon pulls on the tides – and as we are Mostly Water – it Affects the Water Inside Us
Who made the claim: Journalist Wairangi Heke
Source: Wairangi Heke (2022). “A Return to Wisdom – Understanding Maramataka Maaori.” AKO: The Journal for Education Professionals
https://akojournal.org.nz/2022/09/14/a-return-to-wisdom/
What was said: Journalist Wairangi Heke writes that “the Moon pulls the Earth’s tides which are largely comprised of water. Adult humans are made up of around 60 percent water. Does the Moon affect our ‘water’ as it does the oceans?”
Verdict
❌ False. The moon’s gravitational pull on a two meter tall person is negligible and would be comparable to the weight of a mosquito resting on your arm.
Scientific Perspective: Hal Arkowitz and Scott Lilienfeld (2017). Facts and Fictions in Mental Health. Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons, p. 232; Terrence Hines (2025). The Psychology and Science of Pseudoscience. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
Claim
Phases of the Maramataka can Foretell Earthquakes
Who made the claim: Numerous social media posts have attributed large seismic events to lunar phases or celestial signs referenced in the Maramataka. For example, several TikTok and Facebook posts have claimed that the Moon’s position during Whiro foreshadowed earthquakes on the South Island. It was also claimed that tohu (signs) in the sky around these times carry prophetic value. Kiwi weather forecaster Ken Ring claims that when the Moon is in perigee (closest to Earth) it may “activate the Earth’s inner and outer core which affects the mantle. As a result of a fragile magnetic field, the charged particles may be responsible for all forms of extreme weather, including earthquakes...”
Verdict
❌ False. There is no evidence linking lunar phases of the Maramataka to large earthquakes. Predicting earthquakes is complex, and while tidal forces from the Moon can cause minor stress variations in the Earth's crust, these do not predict seismic events in a way that is reliable or meaningful.
A study by prominent seismologist John Vidale of the University of Southern California found “no evidence that large earthquake rates are modulated significantly by the position of the Earth relative to either the Moon or the Sun” and that “clustering and anticlustering arise commonly in random catalogues, potentially fueling enduring earthquake myths.”
While the Moon's gravitational pull affects the oceans, and to a lesser extent the crust through tidal forces, many peer-reviewed studies have found no statistically significant correlation between the lunar phase or perigee and the timing of earthquakes. Tidal forces may slightly increase stress levels on faults but are insufficient to trigger large seismic events independently.
There is a common belief that major earthquakes occur more frequently at or near a full moon due to the increased tidal pull supposedly placing greater stress on the Earth’s crust and thus increasing the odds of a fault slip. In 2018, Susan Hough of the U.S. Geological Survey matched the dates and lunar phases of 204 earthquakes of a magnitude 8 or larger, dating back to the 1600s. She concluded that lunar phases do not trigger major earthquakes. As for the persistence of this belief, she notes that “people find patterns in random data, like seeing animals in the clouds. When a big earthquake occurs on a full moon, or the shortest day of the year, people tend to ascribe significance to the coincidence. When big earthquakes occur that don't fit a pattern, it tends to slide right past us.” However, tides can trigger microearthquakes under specific geological conditions and in tectonically active regions such as the San Andreas Fault although there is no link between these mini-quakes and increased risk for earthquakes at the surface.
Supporting Information:
John Vidale (2016). “Do Earthquakes Cluster Around the Full Moon?” Nature Geoscience 9:577-578; Ring, Ken (2010). “Can Earthquakes be Predicted?” Predict Weather Blog ttps://predictweather.co.nz/ArticleShow.aspx?ID=316&type=home; David Riddell (2011). “Earthquakes: Ones for the History Books.” New Zealand Skeptic 99:12-14 (Autumn); Susan E. Hough (2018). “Do Large (Magnitude ≥8) Global Earthquakes Occur on Preferred Days of the Calendar Year or Lunar Cycle?” Seismological Research Letters 89 (2A):577-581; Jason Daley (2018). “Does the Moon’s Phase Cause Earthquakes?” Smithsonian Magazine, January 19; Jason Daley (2016). “Tides Trigger Tiny Earthquakes Along the San Andreas Fault.” Smithsonian Magazine, July 19.
Further Claims
The Maramataka was traditionally used to guide and regulate planting, fishing, and harvesting.
✔️ True. Māori used lunar cycles to calculate the best times for planting crops and gathering food. These practices were based observations that were developed over generations. Certain days were considered more favourable for activities like harvesting shellfish or planting kūmara. This knowledge was refined by different iwi (tribes) to synch with local ecosystems. In this regard the Maramataka is a sophisticated system that utilises environmental knowledge of the natural world to better understand and anticipate seasonable changes. However, while the Calendar regulated the timing of various activities, there is no direct no conclusive scientific evidence that lunar phases directly influence plant growth. For instance, even the light from a full moon is not strong enough to trigger photosynthesis.
The Maramataka is adapted to specific local environments.
✔️ True. Different iwi (tribes) developed localized versions of the calendar that reflected the natural cycles in their region. This indicates a sophisticated understanding of local ecology.
The Maramataka is being integrated into modern health and education programs in Aotearoa New Zealand.
✔️ True. Some schools and public health initiatives are using the Maramataka to promote wellbeing. While the potential health and educational benefits are unproven, there could be some value through cultural engagement and enhanced self-esteem.
The phases of the Moon can influence animal behavior, including marine life.
✔️ Partially True. Some marine animals exhibit behavioural changes in relation to lunar phases such as tides affecting fish activity. However, when it comes to studies showing a direct link between lunar phase and human behaviour, the effect has not been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the mainstream scientific community.
The Maramataka includes phases of the moon that are considered optimal for rest and reflection.
✔️ True. Maramataka systems often designate specific days as low-energy (e.g., Whiro, Tamatea), encouraging rest or avoiding major decision-making. Engaging in such routines could have positive psychological benefits from encouraging rest and engaging in cultural activities that enhance their sense of identity and self-esteem. However, while lunar phases can influence tides and animal behavior, to date there is no consistent evidence in biomedical or psychological research that supports the notion that lunar phases affect human energy levels, decision-making, mood or physical and emotional well-being. Such claims remain inconclusive or weak.
The Maramataka is more scientifically accurate than the Gregorian calendar.
❌ False. The Gregorian calendar tracks the Earth’s orbit around the Sun with a high degree of accuracy by using leap years to align with the solar year (about 365.25 days). In contrast, the Maramataka is lunar-based and region-specific. The Māori Calendar is an ecological and cultural guide – that is, it tracks the relationship between lunar phases and tides, and lunar cycles in relation to seasonal changes such as the timing of the blooming of certain plants and the migration of birds, as well as cultural events (e.g., rituals). However, it is not as accurate in the measurement of time compared to the Gregorian calendar. Each calendar serves different purposes with the Gregorian system rooted in astronomical timekeeping, and the Maramataka more attuned to local environmental rhythms within a New Zealand context. In short – the Maramataka is the Maramataka and the Gregorian calendar is the Gregorian calendar. They are different systems that serve different purposes.
Māori navigators used the Maramataka to travel across the Pacific Ocean.
🟡 Potentially Misleading. Māori navigators used their knowledge of star positions, wave patterns, cloud formations, ocean swells, bird flight patterns and other techniques to navigate. The Moon was not a primary element of long-distance wayfinding in voyages across the Pacific. However, knowledge of lunar phases could be useful in anticipating tidal changes, especially along coastlines and aligning with favourable fishing conditions.
The Māori Calendar is more sustainable or eco-friendly than Western calendars.
🟡 Misleading. Calendars are tools for organizing time. While the Maramataka may encourage environmental awareness, the claim of it being more sustainable is a value judgment.
Studies have confirmed that people are healthier when following the Maramataka.
🔵 Unproven. While there are anecdotal reports suggesting improved well-being, there are no large-scale, peer-reviewed studies which show that following the Māori Calendar results in better physical or mental health. At best, using lunar cycles to provide mental health guidance could help to create a positive outlook and enhanced self-esteem through the spiritual connection with a valued cultural tradition. Furthermore, following the Maramataka can strengthen community cohesion and ethnic identity by coordinating collective activities such as fishing expeditions and planting rituals. While it could be used as a complementary treatment option for certain medical conditions, it should not replace evidence-based medical therapies.
See: Parahi, Carmen (2020). “The Ancient Māori Healing System that is Making Waves.” Stuff (New Zealand), January 19.
The Maramataka is a single system that is used by all Māori.
❌ False. Different iwi developed their own versions of the Maramataka tailored to their region. There is no one ‘official’ Maramataka. However, different versions of the Māori Calendar are typically very similar not only in New Zealand but to lunar calendars across the Pacific.
See: Muhabbatkhan Agzamova (2024). “The Evolution of Time: A Journey Through the History of Calendars.” International Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences 1(2):3-7; Miguel Valério (2024). “The Rongorongo ‘Lunar Calendar’ of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and the Type of Script.” Pp. 189-224. In Ferrara, et al. (eds.). Oxford: Oxford University Press; Stephen McCluskey (2000). “The Inconstant Moon: Lunar Astronomies in Different Cultures.” Archaeoastronomy 15:14-31; Mare Haimona-Riki (2021). “Maramataka Student Collaborating with NASA.” Te Ao Māori News, June 29. Interview with Te Kahuratai Painting.
6. NASA has endorsed the scientific precision of the Maramataka.
❌ False. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has not endorsed the Māori Lunar Calendar as a scientifically accurate tool for astronomical prediction. While the space agency has yet to issue an official statement on the Calendar, it has expressed interest in indigenous calendars and once invited Māori scholar Te Kahuratai Painting from the University of Auckland to share his knowledge of the Maramataka along with other experts on indigenous knowledge from around the world. This reflects a growing awareness of the value of indigenous knowledge.
See: Mare Haimona-Riki, Mare (2021). “Maramataka Student Collaborating with NASA.” Te Ao Māori News, June 29. Interview with Te Kahuratai Painting; Te Rina Triponel (2021). “Maramataka: Māori Lunar Calendar to be Taught at NASA.” New Zealand Herald, July 6.
Lunar phases can influence human sleep and mood in some individuals.
🔵 Unsubstantiated. While some studies have shown that a full moon may slightly affect sleep cycles or mood in susceptible individuals, this remains controversial. At best the effect is small and inconsistent. The observed effects, such as slight reductions in the duration of sleep or changes in melatonin levels, are typically small and inconsistent across studies, and not universally experienced. The scientific consensus holds that any lunar influence on human behaviour is minimal and not strongly supported by robust, reproducible studies. The reason for these inconsistencies may be due to ‘the file drawer problem’ which involves publication bias whereby the negative findings of many studies never get reported and hence, remain in the file drawer. For instance, imagine if 25 researchers set out to test whether a full moon affects sleep duration. If only 2 find a small effect (by chance) and publish their findings, but the other 23 find no effect and do not submit their findings, this could create a false impression that there is a measurable effect. Reviews and meta-analyses may therefore overestimate the relationship between a full moon and sleep duration as they rely mostly on positive published results.
Supporting Information: Researchers in South Australia used sleep data recorded between March 2017 and September 2023 “from two consumer devices, using location and date data to determine moon phase and total sleep time from all available data covering at least 80% of a moon cycle. One device was a pneumatic under-mattress bed sleep sensor with 124,544 users and 81 million nights of data. The other device was a wristworn sleep sensor with 232,576 users and 96 million nights of data.” They found no support for any moon cycle effects on sleep duration and lunar phase.
Sources: Maren Cordi et al. (2014). “Lunar Cycle Effects on Sleep and the File Drawer Problem.” Current Biology 24(12):R549-R550; José Haba-Rubio et al. (2015). “Bad Sleep? Don't Blame the Moon! A Population-based Study.” Sleep Medicine 16(11):1321-1326; P. Nguyen, et al. (2024). “P019 No Mythical Effect of Moon Cycles on Sleep.” SLEEP Advances 5:A36.
