Te Wiki o te Reo Maori -
Maori Language Week.
Te reo Māori is an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand. Since 1975, New Zealand has celebrated an annual Māori Language Week, with seven days focused on its revitalization.
Following a 2017 issue (2017 Te Reo Maori - Maori Language) focusing on words in te reo Māori that describe new technology, our Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week stamp issue for 2020 features four special and beautifully interconnected Māori words which have been brought to life by artist Dave Burke.
See how beautifully these four stamps fit together, Aroha (love); Whānau (family); Tāne (man, husband); Wahine (female, wife). It would have been nice if they had added a fifth stamp, Tamariki (children).
The Four Stamps.
The design style used is 'kōwhaiwhai' is an art form that is distinctively Māori, and unique to Aotearoa New Zealand. Formerly a design painted on the rafters of meeting houses, now this style is often used in other creative forms of Maori art, such as on these four stamps.
For more on this Maori design style see: -
For other examples of this art design on stamps -
$1.40 - Aroha.
Love, affection, respect, compassion, empathy. Aroha is best understood when it is broken down into its component parts, ARO - ‘take notice of ’ and HĀ - ‘one's essence or breathing’.
$2.70 - Whānau.
Family, to give birth to. ‘Ko au, ko te whānau, ko te hapū, ko te iwi - Me, my family, my relations, my people.’ Whānau sits at the heart of Māori communities.
$3.50 - Tāne.
Male, man, husband. ‘E moe ki te tāne ringa raupa – Marry a man with calloused hands.’ This whakataukī (proverb) suggests a desirable attribute for prospective husbands.
$4.00 - Wahine.
Female, woman, wife. ‘Mā te wahine, mā te whēnua, ngaro ai te tangata - For a woman, for land, man will give his life’ is a much spoken whakataukī.
Collectable Items.
First Day Cover - 2 September 2020.
First-day cover with four gummed stamps.
Miniature Sheet.
Sheet with four gummed stamps.
Each of these four collectable items display a great example of the kōwhaiwhai art style can be seen in the word 'Maori' where the koru can be seen, representing beginnings or new birth in the uncoiling of the New Zealand fern.
Miniature Sheet First Day Cover - 2 September 2020.
First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed.
Te Wiki o te Reo Maori - Maori Language Week Presentation Pack
This year we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with four beautifully illustrated Māori words – aroha, whānau, tāne, wahine. The text in this pack explores the interconnected meaning and strength of these words, and their importance in Māori culture and life in Aotearoa New Zealand today with commentary by kaumātua Luke Crawford QSM.
Set of Plate Blocks. Set of Value Blocks.
Set of Full Sheets.
Technical Information.
Date of issue: 2 September 2020.
Number of stamps: Four gummed stamps.
Denominations: $1.40, $2.70, $3.50, $4.00.
Stamps, miniature sheet and first day covers designed: Dave Burke, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Printer and process: Southern Colour Print, New Zealand by offset lithography.
The number of colours: Four process colours.
Stamp size and format: 46mm x 35mm (horizontal).
Miniature sheet size and format: 108mm x 90mm (horizontal).
Paper type: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper.
The number of stamps per sheet: 25.
Perforation gauge: 14.286 x 13.895.
Special blocks: Plate/imprint blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks are available in A and B formats.
Period of sale: Unless stock is exhausted earlier, these stamps will remain on sale until 1 September 2021. First-day covers will remain on sale until 28 October 2020.
Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
Information & images for this post came from.
An interesting post but I don't think it goes as deep as some of your other posts on Maori subjects. I am pleased you touched on the relationship of the words.
ReplyDeleteMoa.