EV stamp

A stamp showing a waka hiko (electric car) features in a New Zealand Post set celebrating Maori Language Week, September 11-17.

It has worked closely with the Maori Language Commission, designer David Hakaraia and illustrator Elisabeth Vüllings to create a stamp issue celebrating the growth and adaptability of the Maori language.

It’s to demonstrate that te reo Maori is a living language.

The set of 10 stamps ranging from $1 to $2.70 are mainly based on new technology and include the $2.70 one showing a waka hiko.

A waka is any sort of vehicle while hiko, from lightning, is the word for electricity.

The stamps help encourage a language spoken by about 3% of New Zealanders (fewer than 130,000), although more than 300,000 youngsters are studying te reo Maori at school and 100,000 at tertiary level.