Matariki, the Māori New Year, is celebrated annually across Aotearoa New Zealand when, in mid-winter, the Matariki star cluster rises. This signals the time of year for us all to remember those loved ones who have gone before us. It leads the way to te waka o Tamarereti, where those who have died in the past year have gathered to begin their voyage to the gathering of those who lived before them, known as te kahui o nga kahurangi.
As souls depart for their next lives, Matariki greets the rising sun – bringing, in all its glory, the promise of a new year and signalling a time to plan for the future and grasp new opportunities.
Highlights
- 1oz gold proof coin featuring stunning Māori art
- Minted from 0.9999 gold
- Designed by KE Design, Tolaga Bay, New Zealand
- Presented in an elegant wooden box with a certificate of authenticity
- Extremely low worldwide limited mintage of 150 coins
Design
This coin depicts the Matariki origin story. Matariki is an abbreviation of ‘Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea (‘The eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea’). In the creation story, the children of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother) wished to separate their parents so that light could come into the world. The only brother who did not agree to this was Tāwhirimātea, the god of wind and storms. It is said that Tāwhirimātea was so angry with his siblings for separating his parents that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.
| Denomination: | Ten New Zealand dollars |
|---|---|
| Finish: | Proof |
| Composition: | 0.9999 gold |
| Weight: | 1 troy oz |
| Diameter: | 40mm |
| Edge treatment: | Milled |
| Obverse design: | Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, United Kingdom |
| Shape: | Round |
| Reverse design: | Tāwhirimātea |
| Designed by: | KE Design, Tolaga Bay, New Zealand |
| Worldwide mintage limit: | 150 |
| Mint: | BH Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH |
