2020 Nga Hau e Wha - The Four Winds.

This year, in celebration of Matariki, NZ Post decided to highlight stories associated with Ngā Hau e Whā or The Four Winds. The four winds are Te Hau Rāwhiti (the easterly), Te Hau-ā-Uru (the westerly), Te Hau Tonga (the southerly) and Te Hau Raki (the northerly). Hau can mean air, breath, aura, but it is best known as wind.
The wind is portrayed as four in many cultures. Even in the Bible book of Revelation we see four strong angels holding back the four winds. 

Nga Hau e Wha - The Four Winds.

The stamp issue, Four Winds of Aotearoa New Zealand, are represented in unique designs by New Zealand artist Dave Burke. The stamps could be purchased singerly or on items such as covers and miniature sheets. The issue included the usual collector items and packs.

For other posts on Maori culture & legends see our Index - New Zealand Maori.


The Four Single Stamps.

$1.40 - Te Hau Raki.
The Northerly Wind.

$2.70 - Te Hau Rawhiti.
The Easterly Wind.

$3.30 - Te Hau-ā-Aru.
The Westerly Wind.

$4.00 - Te Hau Tonga.
The Southerly Wind.


Collectable Items.

First Day Cover - 3 June 2020.
The first-day cover with four gummed stamps affixed.

Miniature Sheet.
Showing all four stamps.

Miniature Sheet First Day Cover - 3 June 2020.
First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed.

Nga Hau e Wha - The Four Winds Presentation Pack.
This issue featured the usual Presentation Pack telling us more about the four winds of Aotearoa New Zealand and the importance of Matariki with the story told by Paora Tibble. Paora descends from Ngāti Porou, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa and Te Whānau-a-Apanui. He is a writer and translator and creates Māori educational resources. The pack includes a set of four stamps, a miniature sheet and a first-day cover. 


Nga Hau e Wha - The Four Winds. 
Limited Edition. 
The Limited Edition is the ultimate collector’s item for this issue. It includes the Nga Hau e Wha - The Four Winds story in full by writer Paora Tibble. Paora has worked as Te Papa’s Māori language writer/translator and has a background in developing, editing and writing Māori language educational resources. Paora works for National Services Te Paerangi, which is the outreach team for the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. This Limited Edition includes an informative booklet written by Paora as well as all four stamps, colour separation of the $4.00 stamp, a signed first day cover and for the first time a gold-foiled miniature sheet.

Limited Edition Pack.

Limited Edition First Day Cover - 3 June 2020.

Limited Edition Special Print.

Collector Blocks.
 
Set of Plate Blocks.                                                                  Set of Value Blocks.

Set of Full Sheets.


Technical information.
Date of issue: 3 June 2020.
The number of stamps: Four gummed stamps.
Denominations: $1.40, $2.70, $3.30, $4.00.
Stamps, miniature sheet and first day covers designed: Dave Burke, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Printer: Southern Colour Print, New Zealand.
The number of colours: Four process colours. 
Stamp size and format: 35mm x 45.6mm (vertical).
Paper type: 104g Tullis Russell Red-Phosphor gummed stamp paper.
The number of stamps per sheet: 25.
Perforation gauge: 14.78 x 14.86.
Period of sale: Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, these stamps will remain on sale until 2 June 2021. First-day covers will remain on sale until 2 August 2020.


Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their website and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/

Information & images for this post came from.