Sunday, 7 June 2020

1383) "Matariki", New Zealand: "Nga Hau e Wha" (or "The Four Winds") featured on a set of four stamps featuring the Easterly, Westerly, Northerly and Southerly Winds, brought out by New Zealand Post: Date of Stamp set issue: 03.06.2020:

1383) "Matariki", New Zealand: "Nga Hau e Wha" (or "The Four Winds") featured on a set of four stamps featuring the Easterly, Westerly, Northerly and Southerly Winds, brought out by New Zealand Post: Date of Stamp set issue: 03.06.2020:


"Matariki" Festival is one of New Zealand's pre-eminent winter celebrations. Matariki is also known as "the Rising of the Star Constellation" (the Pleiades) and is a significant time in mid-winter  in the Moari calendar, as it marks the start of the Maori New Year.  "Matariki" literally means the "Eyes of God" (or Little Eyes").

According to a myth, when "Ranginui", (the Sky Father) and "Papatuanuku" (the Earth Mother) were separated by their children, the God of the Winds - Tawhirimatea" became so angry that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.


Historically, new year celebrations provide the communities an opportunity to come together to acknowledge the year gone by and make plans for the year ahead. Traditionally, it is a time for remembering the dead and celebrating new life. It is also a happy event - crops have been harvested and seafood and birds have been collected. With plenty of food in the storehouses, Matariki is a time for singing, dancing, feasting and celbrating.

Festivities include sharing of "Kai" (food), rituals, knowledge, korero (discussions) and entertainment.


Matariki celebrations were once popular but stopped in the 1940s, only to be revived in 2000. Only a few people took part at first, but in about two decades, thousands participate in the festivities. A special feature of Matariki celebrations is the flying of kites - which according to ancient tradition, flutter "close to the stars". Nowadays, hot air balloons and fire-works are a part of the celebrations.

The Commemorative Stamps:

This year, in celebration of "Matariki", stories associated with "Nga Hau e Wha" (or "The Four Winds") are highlighted.


      The four winds represented on the above four stamps

The four winds are - "Te Hau Rawhiti" (The "Easterly Wind"), "Te Hau-a-uru" (the "Westerly Wind"), "Te Hau Tonga" (the "Southerly Wind") and "Te Hau Raki" (the "Northerly Wind").

 "Hau" means air, breath, aura but is best known as wind.

The Four Winds of Aotearoa, New Zealand are represented in unique designs on these stamps.


                                 The Miniature Sheet (MS)

The Miniature Sheet (MS) is titled "Nga Hau e Wha" (The Four Winds") and "MATARIKI 2020".


                                 The Presentation Pack

A well-known "Whakatauki" ("Proverb") encourages people to refresh themselves by returning home. 

"E hoki ki o Maunga kia purea koe e nga hau o Tawhirimatea" - (meaning "Return to your mountains that you may be cleansed by the winds of "Tawhirimatea").

Tawhirimatea is the father of the four winds-

Te Hau Tonga - The Southerly Winds which brings rain, chill and cold weather to the New Zealand islands. It is the cold wind that forces people to go inside their homes, to come together, close to the home fire and to keep warm.

The Technical Details:

Stamp issue date: 03.06.2020

Stamp values: $1.40, $2.70, $3.30, $4.00

Stamp Sizes: 35.00 mm x 45.60 mm (vertical)

Designer: Dave Burke, Tauranga, New Zealand

Printer: Southern Colour Print, New Zealand.









Links to posts on Australia, New Zealand and countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific etc on this Blog: 

1) Bank of Papua New Guinea: 36th Anniversary Celebrations (1973-2008): A Commemorative Uncirculated Coin Set consisting of a 2 Kina Banknote & a 2 Kina Coin



 3) Currency & Coinage of the Solomon Islands: Dollars and Cents

4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards

5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc  

6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)

7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene 

8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji 

9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979 

10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents 

11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms 

12) The story of the Australian Penny 

13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009 

14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman 

15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues 

16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017

17) Currency & coinage of the Kingdom of Tonga : Pa'anga & Seniti 

18) Postage Stamps & Coin: Commemorating the Centenary of the Trans-Australian Railway Line stamps issued by Australia Post & coins by Perth Mint on 04.07.2017



20) The Earth and Beyond Coin Series issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM): First coin in the series - The Earth - issued on 03.04.2018


21) Wedge Tailed Eagle Coin Series: 200 Dollars Gold, 100 Dollars Gold & 1 Dollar Silver coins brought out by the Perth Mint, Australia in its on-going series started in 2014 in collaboration with John Mercanti, Chief Engraver of the US Mint: Coins issued in 2018


22) Australian Kangaroo Coin Series: 25th Anniversary Commemoration: A $100 Gold Coin and a $10 Silver Coin with selective gold plating issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in 2018


23) "Kangaroo at Sunset": The Royal Australian Mint (RAM) is phasing out this iconic $25 Gold Coin from its repertoire of Commemorative Coins in 2018


24) "Discovery": An exclusive one piece - 2 Kilo Gold Coin studded with four Argyle Pink Diamonds/Gemstones minted by the Perth Mint, Australia in co-ordination with the Argyle Pink Diamonds Mine on 04.09.2018


25) "The Moon": The Earth and Beyond three Silver Coin Series: Royal Australian Mint issues the second coin in the series - a silver coloured Five (AUD) Dollars Concave-shaped (Domed) Coin on 03.09.2018


26) New $10 Australian Banknote issued on 18.09.2017 under the "Fourth Series of Banknotes": New generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced in a phased manner from 09/2016 onwards by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)

27) New Australian 50 Dollar Banknote (AUD $50) issued in 10/2018, under the "Fourth Series of Banknotes": New Generation of Australian Banknotes introduced in a phased manner from 09/2016 onwards by Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)


28) "Lake Argyle" - "The Jewel of the Kimberley", Australia: Limited Edition Series of Rare diamond ingots in Pink Gold (10 Oz. & 1 Oz.) and Platinum (1 Oz.) studded with eight Argyle Pink Diamonds each issued by the Perth Mint, Australia in collaboration with the Argyle Pink Diamond Mine (2018)


29) "The Sun": The Earth and Beyond Coin Series": Royal australian Mint (RAM) issues the third and final coin in the three-coin Series, a Silver Coloured Five (AUD) Dollars Concave-shaped (Domed) Coin on 03.02.2019


30) Australia New Generation $20 Banknote is scheduled to be released in October 2019, joining the already released Banknotes in the denominations of $5, $10 and $50 in the new Series

31) The Afghan Express, Australia's iconic Train nicknamed "The Ghan": 90th Anniversary of the iconic Transcontinental Passenger Train: A 50 Cent Colour applied coin brought out by the Royal Australian Mint on 08.07.2019

32) "Kangaroos at Dawn", Australia, replaces the "Kangaroo at Sunset" Coin Series:25 Dollar Gold 1/5 Oz Coin and 1 Dollar Silver 1/2 Oz Coins brought out by the Royal Australian Mint

33) Australian Redback Spider: The first coin in a new $1 (AUD) Silver Bullion Coin Series, brought out by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in a series titled "Australia's Most Dangerous": Coin issue year: 2020 

34) QANTAS (Queensland And North Territory Aerial Service), Australia: Centenary Anniversary Celebrations (1920-2020): A Commemorative $1 (AUD) Coin issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM; b) An 11-Coin set featuring an aircraft from QANTAS's 100 year old history and the Kangaroo Penny, which inspired its "Flying Kangaroo" logo: Coin issue Year: 2020

35) Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Niue: A $100 (AUD) Pearl 1 Oz. Gold Proof Coin: Date/Year of issue - 2020

36) "Gold Rush, 1851", Australia: Gold (10 Dollars), Silver (1 Dollar) and Aluminium Bronze (1 Dollar) Coins minted by the Royal Australian Mint commemorate the Era of Australia's Gold Rush; Year of issue: 2020

37) Indian-Pacific Railway Service, Australia: 50th Anniversary of the iconic train service: A Commemorative 50 Cent Coin issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM): Year of issue: 2020:

38) The ill-fated ship "Batavia", Australia: "Australian Shipwreck Coin Series": The first Gold 100 Dollars Triangular shaped Bullion Coin minted by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM): Coin issued in 2019

39) The ill-fated ship "Vergulde Draeck" (or the "Gilt Dragon"), Australia: The second Gold 100Dollars and Silver 1 Dollar Triangular shaped Bullion Coins minted by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM): Coin issued in 2020

40) The "Tooth Fairy", Australia: A $2 (Two Dollars) Coin issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM): Coin issue Year: 2020

41) Native Daphne Moths, New Zealand: A set of six stamps depicting Native Daphne Moths issued by New Zealand Post: Stamp set issue date: 05.02.2020

42) "Kakariki" - (Parakeets), New Zealand: A set of five stamps issued by New Zealand Post featuring Parakeets found in New Zealand: Date of Stamp issue: 04.03.2020

43) Maui and the First Dog ("Maui Raua Ko Irawaru"), New Zealand: A set of two Gold Coins ($10 NZD each) and two Silver Coins (1 NZD each) issued by the New Zealand Mint & minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich: Date of Coin Set issue: 26.02.2020

44) The "Emu in the Sky Constellation", Australia: First Coin in the Star Dreaming Coin Series": A $1 (One Dollar) Silver Proof Coin issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM): YEar of coin issue: 2020

 45) New Zealand "Bear Hunt": A set of six stamps brought out by New Zealand Post, supporting the Red Cross - featuring Teddy Bears, selected to exemplifythe creativity and care put into the Bear Hunt by and for Kiwis: Date of Stamp set issue: 20.05.2020

46) "Matariki", New Zealand: "Nga Hau e Wha" (or "The Four Winds") featured on a set of four stamps featuring the Easterly, Westerly, Northerly and Southerly Winds brought out by New Zealand Post: Date of Stamp set issue: 03.06.2020

Links to interesting Posts on coins from Tuvalu Islands:

1)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean :2) Edward Teach or "BlackBeard"

2)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean: 3)Bartholomew Roberts or Black Bart Roberts 
  
 3)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean:4)Jack Rackham 

4)Famous-pirates-of- the Caribbean : 5) Henry Avery 

5)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean : 6) Sir Henry Morgan

6)Norse Goddess Freya - a Silver 2 Dollars High Relief antiquated Coin , the first in the Series titled "Norse Goddesses" (2017)  



Links to posts on issues from the Republic of Palau:

2) Four Leaf Clover - Coin titled "Silver Fortune" - A 5 Dollars Silver coin issued by Coin Invest Trust in 2018


3) Totem Pole 2 Oz. or 10 Dollars Silver coin from the Republic of Palau being issued on 12.06.2018


4) The "Maneki Neko Cat" ot the "Fortune Cat" : A $1 Gold Coin issued by the Republic of Palau: Minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich for Coin Invest Trust in 2018


5) "Tree of Life", Palau: First Coin in a new Coin Series titled "Dot Art" features "Pointillism", an Art Technique of the 1800s: A Silver Black Proof $20 Coin minted with Smartminting Technology, coordinated by Numiscollect: Date of Coin issue: 05/2020

Links to Posts on coin issues from Niue Islands:


1) Battle of Marathon: Battles that changed History Coin Series: A $2 Silver coin issued by the New Zealand Mint of behalf of Niue Islands in 2018


2) Sachin Tendulkar: "World's Greatest Batsman": Gold & Silver coins issued by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Islands in 2015


3) The "Red Dragon", an issue from Niue Island: minted by the New Zealand Mint: "The Mythical Dragons of the World Coin Series": The first Silver 5 Dollars selectively coloured Coin in the Series features the "Red Dragon of Vortigern": Year of issue: 2019

4) "The Four Dragons", Niue Island: Minted by the New Zealand Mint: The "Mythical Dragons of the World Coin Series": The second Silver 5 Dollars Selectively Coloured Coin in the Series features the Four Dragons: the Long Dragon, the Yellow Dragon, the Black Dragon and the Pearl Dragon: Year of issue: 2019

5) The "1001 Arabian Nights Tales": First $2 Silver crown Coin coin in the Series depicts the "story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves": Coin issue date: 29.03.2019

6) Niue Island: "The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor": The "1001 Arabian Nights Tales": The Second Coin in the Series features the story of Sindbad the Sailor, on a $2 Silver Crown Coin issued by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island in the South Pacific: Issue date: 05/2019

7) Birds of Paradise, Niue Islands: A 1 Oz Silver $2 Coin minted by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Islands: Coin minting Year: 2020

8) The "Norse Dragon" (or Dreki"), Niue Island: The "Mythical Dragons of the World Coin Series": Minted by the New Zealand Mint: The third Silver 5 Dollars Selectively Coloured Coin in the Series features the Norse Dragon: Date of Coin issue: 14.02.2020

9) "Tyrannosaurus Rex", Niue Island: First Coin in the Coin Series titled - "Dinosaur Coin Collection": A $2 One Oz. Silver Coin minted by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island: Year: 2020



Links to posts on Coin issues from Solomon Islands:


1) Remembering the Fallen during World War I (1914-1918), Solomon Islands: A 5 Ounce Silver $10 Coin depicting a field of Red Poppies

2) Solomon Islands: 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook's first Pacific "Voyage of Discovery" and charting of New Zealand and Australia's East Coast: Date of issue: 2020

3) Currency and Coinage of the Solomon Islands: Dollars and Cents

Other links to interesting posts on Coins brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of other countries:












23) Manannan, the First King of Isle of Man or Mann: A Silver 5 Pounds Coin brought out by the Isle of Man in collaboration with Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich

24) Arowana Dragon Fish, Republic of Palau: A Silver $10 (Dollars) Coin brought out by Coin Invest Trust (CIT) for the Republic of Palau, minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich: Issue year: 2019



25)"Estacado" - Meteorite Impacts Coin Series: 2 Dollars Titanium-Silver Coin issued by the Cook Islands in co-ordination with Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH issued in 08/2019
26) Peter Carl Faberge: 100th Anniversary of his passing away (1920-2020): Coin invest Trust (CIT) has issued a commemorative silver coin of 1000 Togrog on behalf of the Republic of Mongolia, featuring Faberge's "Apple Blossom Egg", the biggest and most well known of his creations: Coin issue date/Year: 2020 

27) All Hallows Eve' (or "Hallowe'en") Coin Republic of Palau: $1 Gold Coin issued by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of the Republic of Palau: Coin minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich: Year of issue: 2019



The 7-Summits Silver Coin Series:
Links on Batman and Superman Posts on this Blog:



5 comments:

  1. Rajan Trikha has commented:
    "Feel like joining Matariki celebrations having lots of activities as I really love the serene New Zealand."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Trikha sahab. The Maori culture, based on common observations of the stars, constellations, winds, seasons etc. Have over the generations have translated them into legends an myths which have been carried down from generations. It is a beautiful country even today with lots of things to explore.

      Delete
    2. Rajan Trikha has further commented:
      "Yes Dear Rajeev I have visited New Zealand and have good friends there who also mingle with Maori Culture.I noticed during my visit that Maori ppl are heavily built."

      Delete
  2. Satyajit Pratap has commented:
    "Thanks great info... UT the words connoting and representing this festival appear in different linguistics.... Not English. Can you help us with the origin...
    Matariki" Festival is one of New Zealand's pre-eminent winter celebrations. Matariki is also known as "the Rising of the Star Constellation" (the Pleiades) and is a significant time in mid-winter in the Moari calendar, as it marks the start of the Maori New Year. "Matariki" literally means the "Eyes of God" (or Little Eyes").
    According to a myth, when "Ranginui", (the Sky Father) and "Papatuanuku" (the Earth Mother) were separated by their children, the God of the Winds - Tawhirimatea" became so angry that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Almost all traditions in the South Pacific, Africa, America's. Indian subcontinent etc. were based on observations of nature and human character and way of life. These observations were passed down from generation to generation through oral information, which over time got translated into local stories and myths. The origins of all these stories is lost in time, but they have some things in common- observation of nature around us and morals.

      Delete