Maui and the Fish - Te Ika-a-Maui

Single $1.20 'An impending storm' self-adhesive stamp.

Excitement, curiosity and a mischievous nature pushed Māui into action. He could not shake the urge to stow away quietly on board his older brothers’ waka as they prepared for a fishing trip. Despite the fine weather, his intuition told him that a storm was looming and somehow it would bring him greatness.

He tai haruru

Ko te kōrawa, ko te māhirahira, ko hīanga koirā katoa i ākina a Māui ki te mahi. Tē taea e Māui te ngāueue te whakaaro kia konihi ki te waka o ōna tuākana huna ai i a rātou e whakarite waka ana ki te hī ika. Ahakoa te paki o te rā, e matakite ana ia tērā tētehi tai haruru e pūhia mai ana te pūrākau mōna.

Single $1.20 'Launch the waka' self-adhesive stamp.

In preparation for the fishing voyage, lashings were tightened, fishing nets and lines were checked, hooks were sharpened and the hull was checked for seaworthiness. The sea was like glass, the weather was calm and the winds looked favourable for a quick journey to the brothers’ favourite fishing grounds.

Whakarewaina te waka

Hei whakarite waka ki te hī ika, i whakakikīa ngā aukaha, i tirohia ngā kupenga me ngā aho, i whakakoia ngā matau, i purua katoatia ngā aurukōwhao i te takere anō hoki. I āio te moana, i rangi paihuarere, ā i kōtengitengi te hau kia tere ai te rere o te waka ki tō ngā tuākana tino tauranga ika. He tohu pai ēnei kia riro i a rātou te mahi a te ika.

Single $1.20 'A legendary heirloom' self-adhesive stamp.

Māui lay hidden under a pile of clothing at the rear of the waka. He dared not move, fearing that his brothers might throw him overboard. He gripped tightly his late grandmother’s heirloom jawbone as comfort in his frightening predicament. On reaching the fabled fishing grounds, he would emerge from his hiding place.

He marutuna tuku iho

I takoto huna a Māui i raro i tētehi haupūranga kākahu i te kei o te waka. Tino kore nei ia e paku oi, kei rukea ia e ōna tuākana i te waka. I raraui te kauae tuku iho o tōna kuia kua mate noa atu hei mamahutanga mōna i tēnei wā whakamataku. Kia tae atu rātou ki te tino tauranga ika ka puaki rā anō ia i te wāhi huna.

Single $2.40 'The fierce battle' self-adhesive stamp.

Māui stood at the bow of the waka, his entire body straining with the effort to haul in his prize. The enormous fish thrashed violently back and forth, its immense tail triggering tsunami sized waves. Māui looked skyward, calling for divine intervention to give him the strength needed to overcome this mighty fish.

Te kakaringa wawana

Ka tū a Māui i te ihu o te waka, ka whakawhēnanauhia katoatia te tinana ki te hī ake i te ika kāmehameha. E kowheta mai ana, e kowheta atu ana te ika kaitā, ka ara ake ngā parawhenua mea i tōna hiku kaha. Ka whakaterangi te titiro a Māui, ka takitaki i ana karakia kia uaua parāoa te ringaringa ki te hī i te ika rīrā nei.

Single $3.00 'The carving of the land' self-adhesive stamp.

On breaking the sea surface, the fish hardened into a huge land mass. Māui lay on the waka after the fierce battle with the fish. Māui’s brothers jumped from the waka, retrieved the jawbone and used it to ruthlessly to carve up the land. These actions would set the future landscape of Aotearoa - New Zealand.

Te tāraitanga o te whenua

I te putanga ki te karetai o te moana, ka whakauka te ika hei whenua. Mutu kau ana te putakari hirahira me te ika ka takoto kau a Māui i te waka. Ka heke iho ngā tuākana o Māui i te waka ka tiki i te kauae ka tīmata ai tā rātou tārainga pūhungahungatanga o te whenua. Ka riro mā tēnei mahi a Aotearoa e whakaahua i taua rā, ā mohoa noa nei.

Single $3.60 'The fish of Māui and the waka' self-adhesive stamp.

Te Ika-a-Māui and the waka are historic reminders of the heroic deeds of Māui that formed both the North and South Islands of Aotearoa – New Zealand. This story is only one of many versions passed down from generation to generation depicting the creation of this unique paradise called home by many.

Te ika a Māui me te waka

Ka noho Te Ika a Māui me te waka hei whakamaharatanga i ā Māui mahi tuahangata kia puta mai ko ngā moutere e rua e mōhiotia nei ko Aotearoa. Ko te korero nei tētehi o roto mai i ngā kōrero huhua e tuku iho ana hei whakaatu i te orokohanganga o tēnei whenua taurikura hei kāinga mō te tini tāngata.  

This presentation pack offered the full story of Te Ika-a-Māui in both English and Te Reo Māori, with each stamp presented alongside the part of the story it represents. It included a set of gummed stamps, a miniature sheet, and a first day cover.