CANCER (June 22-July 23)
He iti kai mā te kotahi e kai, kia rangona ai te reka: "If something is too small for division, do not try to divide it." No-one wants a piece of something that doesn’t measure up. Stop with the promiscuity, it’s embarrassing. It’s a make or break year and no-one born in Cancer will know that better in 2026 than Christopher Luxon, who turns 56 on July 19. Poor guy. Eat well and drink wisely. Put the treadmill of your family life on a steep incline. You’ll get there. Like any muscle, gratitude strengthens with use.
LEO (July 24-August 22)
Whaowhia te kete mātauranga: "Fill the basket of knowledge." Misinformation gets a bad press but be open to new ideas and out-there theories. Remember: the MSN exist to conceal. Forgive your enemies. Jacinda Ardern, who turns 46 on July 26, could not care less about her critics; if empathy is what it takes, take it. Travel beckons. It may not go beyond Naseby but it will enrich. Each time you complete a task, you train your brain to believe in your ability to execute.
VIRGO (August 23-September 22)
E iti noa ana, nā te aroha: "Although it is small, it is given with love." 2026 is a good year. You will learn to relax with your choices. Happy birthdays to Chris Bishop on September 4, and Chris Hipkins on September 5. One of them is due for oblivion. Consider benchmark performance indicators to help you compare how your business may perform against others in your industry. It might not sound sexy but look upon it as slow and cumbersome foreplay.
LIBRA (September 23-October 23)
He iti hau marangai e tū te pāhokahoka: "Just like a rainbow after the storm, success follows failure." You had that exact same whakataukī last year. 2026 is a kind of Groundhog Year. Rinse and repeat. Choose kindness over self-interest. Mahatma Gandhi was Libran but so was Margaret Thatcher. If your goal is to increase sales by 5% each month, review your figures at the end of the month. That way you’ll know if you’re on target or if you need to give up and live in Mosgiel.
SCORPIO (October 24-November 22)
Tino kai, tino ora te kōpū: "He who has the produce of his labour stored up will never want." It’s not entirely true; you have the kind of ambition which is never satisfied, and you’ll always want more. Good. Produce more. Chart a new course. Respect other cultures, and try not to lose sight of self-respect. James Cook was a Scorpio but so is Katy Perry. Set up a customer database that captures key information when you deal with customers and suppliers. Follow their social media and stalk them.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23-December 22)
E koekoe te kōkō, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū: "The parson bird chatters, the parrot gabbles, the wood pigeon coos." Is this really a whakataukī? It’s kind of critical. Chatter and gabble to your heart’s content.
You have great power; use it wisely. Taylor Swift is Sagittarian but so was Josef Stalin. A range of organisations and online resources can support you through the ups and downs of running a business. Some of them just want your money. Stay vigilant; paranoia is a tool.
By Steve Braunias
