New Zealand Issued Stamps on 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 revitalisation.

$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 – ‘ones 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.

Issue Date:02.09.2020 Designer:Dave Burke, Tauranga, New Zealand Printer:Southern Colour Print, New Zealand Process:Offset Lithography Colours:Four process colours Size:46mm x 35mm