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20
TE AO MÄORI
From the traditional to
contemporary, Mäori art fi nds
expression in a variety of forms,
and the image of the heitiki
is an ever present part of this
landscape. Today the heitiki
is recognised by many New
Zealanders as an important
symbol of New Zealand’s
cultural identity.
Director Marketing and Sales
James Te Puni (Ngäti Porou), a
former General Manager Mäori
for Te Papa Tongarewa, has
led the team responsible for
developing the latest issue.
“This heitiki stamp issue has
provided New Zealand Post
with the opportunity to work
closely with some key artists
and infl uencers in the Mäori arts
community,” says James Te Puni.
NZ Post Honours the Heitiki in
MATARIKI STAMPS
On 24 June 2009 New Zealand Post released the second annual
Matariki stamp series, honouring the heitiki as an icon of Mäori art.
“The six stamps in the issue
comprise three of contemporary
heitiki and three dating from as
early as the 1500s, forming a
collection that we hope many
New Zealanders will take pride
in,” he says.
New Zealand artists Rangi
Kipa (Ngä Kähui Maunga) and
Raponi (Ngäti Rangitihi and
Tühourangi) were commissioned
by New Zealand Post to create
heitiki especially for this year’s
Matariki stamps. The third
contemporary whalebone
heitiki, carved by Rangi Hetet
(Ngäti Tüwharetoa, Ngäti
Maniapoto) in 1991, links the
2008 inaugural Matariki issue
to the current one as it also
featured on the earlier $2.00
stamp.
TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | PIPIRI – HÖNGONGOI 2009
Raponi’s heitiki, carved from
pounamu, is on the $1.00
stamp. The $1.50 stamp shows
the contemporary carving by
Rangi Kipa. Rangi Hetet’s paraoa
carving is on the 2009 Matariki
$2.30 stamp.
Tamaki Paenga Hira and Dr Hirini
Moko Mead provided support for
New Zealand Post in selecting
the three heitiki to feature
in this release from current
museum collections.
The Auckland War Memorial
Museum is the permanent home
of the taonga featured on the 50
cent stamp. The heitiki depicted
on the $2.00 stamp is held in
Te Papa’s collection. The $1.80
stamp features a heitiki also held
in Te Papa’s collections.
Consistent with the cultural
signifi cance of Matariki, these
annual stamps carry the name
“Aotearoa”, in addition to
the standard “New Zealand”
identifi cation.
Talented Mäori designer Len
Hetet (Ngäti Tuwharetoa, Ngäti
Maniapoto, Te Ätiawa, Ngäti
Apa) worked with New Zealand
Post to create the 2009 Matariki
stamp collection.
“We appreciate the ongoing
support from the various
partners and supporters, who
also include the New Zealand
Mäori Tourism Council, Te Puni
Kökiri and Te Taura Whiri i
te Reo Mäori, for this special
Matariki stamp release,” says
James Te Puni.
”We look forward to continuing
our refl ections of te ao Mäori
in future Matariki releases,”
he says.