Hiwa-i-te-rangi

Hiwa-i-te-rangi is the star of dreams, the one we turn to during Matariki — a time that also marks a natural point for reflection, planning, and beginning again in the garden.

In the spirit of her guiding light, Tomato Love began with a simple wish: to grow something meaningful, to nourish others, and to reconnect with the land.

What started as a handful of heirloom seeds became a journey of remembering, that small things matter, that stories live in the soil, and that the dreams we plant can become harvests for the future.

In learning more about Matariki, I came across the work of Dr Rangi Mātāmua, whose whakaaro helped deepen my understanding of timing, intention, and the rhythm of the garden.

He describes Hiwa-i-te-rangi as the youngest of the cluster — the one we turn to when casting our dreams into the sky. The star of wishes, the guardian of aspiration.

Matariki is also a natural turning point in the gardening year here in Aotearoa.

As the new year begins, it’s a time to reflect on what has been, and to begin planning what comes next — in the soil, and in ourselves.

For many, the garden slows at this time. But beneath the surface, the next season is already beginning — through seed selection, soil preparation, and quiet intention.

Whether you follow the maramataka or simply observe the land around you, Matariki offers a moment to reset and realign with the rhythm of the garden.

This is often when I begin planning my tomato season — choosing varieties, saving seed, and preparing for what’s ahead. You can explore the seed collection here.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need a place to begin.

Matariki rising in the Aotearoa night sky — a time of remembrance, renewal, and the planting of new beginnings.

For those wanting to begin at this time of year, you can explore the seed collection — a place to start planning, choosing, and preparing for the season ahead, in your own time.

→ Explore the Store

Around this time of year, I begin thinking carefully about what to grow — which varieties will thrive, and which ones are worth sharing.

Last year, I was invited to contribute to a feature on favourite tomatoes to grow in Aotearoa, alongside a group of experienced growers. There were some great insights and excellent tips shared across the articles — a reminder of how much knowledge is held in different gardens.

→ Read the full article from NZ Gardener

At Hiwa-i-te-rangi's rising, we plant our intentions like seeds — trusting they will take root in the season ahead.

Matariki becomes a time not just to reflect, but to begin again — in the garden, and in ourselves.

And sometimes, that begins with something as simple as one seed.