Matariki is the Maori name for the Pleiades star cluster whose first rising in late May or early June marks the beginning of the Maori new year. Since 2001, various New Zealand institutions have celebrated Matariki over a week or month from June to August to recognize Maori culture and language. A former Maori Party MP proposed making Matariki an official public holiday to replace Queen's Birthday, but the bill was voted down at its first reading despite some support for recognizing the cultural significance of Matariki.