2021 Whanau Marama - Family of Light

           I was excited to see a Matariki issue from NZ Post. Then I noticed there was no mention of Matariki on the stamps, just on additional collector items. For the past few years, they have been dropped in favour of other Maori issues. Now we have this vivid issue of four interesting stamps but unfortunately, I can't include them in our Matariki collection.

           For the Māori people, June's night skies traditionally have huge significance as the dawn of a new Māori year. The annual appearance of the seven stars of ‘Matariki’ (or the Pleiades constellation) signals a time for renewal, reflection and celebration! This celebration is something unique to New Zealand.

Tamanuiterā (the Sun) and Marama (the Moon) together with Ngā Whetū Matariki (the Pleiades Star Cluster) make up the family of heavenly bodies known as Te Whānau Mārama (the Family of Light).

Single $1.50 'Marama: Where art thou, Rona?'
After abusing Marama for hiding behind a cloud, Marama captured and pulled Rona up to her, where she now resides forever.  
          1994  Maori Myths & Legends. 80c - Rona Snatched By Marama (Moon).

$2.80 'Marama: The eye of the night'
The bright face of Marama and her lunar phases (maramataka) help Māori to interact with the stars of Matariki.

$3.60 'Tamanuiterā: Fast to rise, fast to set'
Using his grandmother’s jawbone, Māui and his brothers slow the journey of Tamanuiterā across the sky to make the day longer.
2009 - A Tiki Tour of New Zealand. No. 1.50c - Maui snaring the sun.

$4.10 'Tamanuiterā: Summer path, winter path'
Tamanuiterā has two wives, Hineraumati (summer) and Hinetakurua (winter). The Matariki star cluster is positioned differently during each of the seasons.

Whanau Marama - Family of Light - Miniature Sheet.

Whanau Marama - Family of Light - First Day Cover.
Date of Issue - 2nd Jun 2021.

Whanau Marama - Family of Light - Miniature Sheet, First Day Cover.
Date of Issue - 2nd Jun 2021.


Technical Information.

Date of issue:        2 June 2021.

Number of stamps: Four gummed.

Denominations: $1.50, $2.80, $3.60 & $4.10.

Designed and illustrated by: Dave Burke, Tauranga, New Zealand.

Printer and process: Southern Colour Print, New Zealand by lithography.

Number of colours: Four process colours.

Stamp size and format: 45.6mm x 35mm (horizontal).

Miniature sheet size and format: 180mm x 90mm (horizontal).

Paper type: Tullis Russell 106gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper.

Number of stamps per sheet: 25.

Perforation gauge: 14.78 x 14.86.


The page was posted by Allan.

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.