2008 Matariki / Maori New Year

		Cat.	Mint	Used
50c	Ranginui / The origin of the Earth and Heavens	640a	$0.75	$0.80
50c	Te Moana Nui a Kiwa / The Pacific Ocean	640b	$0.75	$0.80
$1	Papatuanuku / Food from the land	640c	$1.50	$1.60
$1.50	Whakapapa / Remembering our Ancestors	640d	$2.25	$2.40
$2	Takoha / Gifts as a pledge or token	640e	$3.00	$3.20
$2.50	Te Tau Hou / The New Year	640f	$3.75	$4.00
	Set of 6	640g	$11.40	$12.15
	Miniature Sheet - 50c (640a), 50c (640b), $1 (640c), $1.50 (640d), $2 (640e), $2.50 (640f)	640h	$12.00	$12.80

In the Māori language Matariki is the name of the Pleiades star cluster, which was important for agriculture in establishing the correct time to plant crops. The constellation is also believed to have been used by navigators.

The first rising of the Pleiades and of Rigel (Puanga in Māori) occurs just prior to sunrise in late May or early June, and this indicates that the old year has ended and the new year has begun.

The actual time for celebrating Matariki varies depending on the iwi (tribe). It has become common practice for various private and public institutions to celebrate Matariki over the period of a week or month anywhere from early June to late July.

In traditional times, Matariki was a season to celebrate and to prepare the ground for the coming year. It was also a good time to instruct young people in the lore of the land and the forest.

The 2008 WIPA08 - Vienna International Postage Stamp Exhibition miniature sheet also contained three stamps from this issue.

If you have any questions or comments please contact us - we'd love to hear from you.

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