RPM Discs x Bros for Change Tawhirimatea | Atua Series

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Speed: 13   Glide: 6   Turn: -1   Fade: 2

The Tawhirimatea is a limited edition collaborative release by RPM Discs x Bros for Change, and the second disc in the limited edition Atua Series. Only 600 of these special discs have been produced. Each disc is sealed in a commemorative box marked with a unique identifier number (e.g. #002/600) and packaged together with a certificate of authentication.

The Tawhirimatea is a special edition Atomic Kahu XG. It has released in 4 special shades of blue, each depicting the colours of the weather and winds. Learn more about the Atua Series below.

About the 'Atua Series':  Atua is a collective word refering to Māori Gods. This series was conceived bu Jaye Pukepuke, member of Team WIN.O and leader of Bros for Change, while he was practicing with his discs and attempting to better connect to the disc. As a hunter and gatherer in Aotearoa (New Zealand), Jaye connects to the land or the sea - it brings him peace and a tranquil sense of belonging. Jaye wanted to connect to the disc and visualize its path of travel slowing it down and almost pausing everything around it. This was the catalyst for connecting the discs to the Atua.

About the design Tāwhirimatea: The haehae designs folowing the edges of the stamp design are symbolic of ngā hau e whā (the four winds) of which Tāwhirimātea has dominion over by harnessing said winds and releasing them at his whim. Tāwhirimātea is symbolised here with four arms and four hands, again strengthening the connection to ngā hau e whā and his ability to harness all four winds. 

In this design Tāwhirimātea is also depicted as blind, tying into the matariki narrative where Tāwhiri was defeated in single combat by his brother Tūmatauenga ( The God of War and Mankind). And after the battle, in his rage Tāwhirimātea clawed his eyeballs out and crushed them within his hands. He then tossed them into the sky where they became the cluster of stars known as matariki - “Ngā mata o te ariki Tāwhirimātea” 

The story of Tāwhirimātea: The Māori word for weather is rangi (also meaning sky). In Māori tradition, the deity who controls the weather is 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. When Ranginui and Papatūānuku were separated, he ascended to the sky to be with his father. Together they plotted revenge against the other brothers. Tāwhirimātea began to produce numerous offspring.

The four winds: Tāwhirimātea sent away his wind children: one to the north (tūāraki), one to the south (tonga), one to the east (marangai) and one to the west (hauāuru). The direction in which each child was sent became the name of the wind from that direction.

Clouds: Tāwhirimātea then sent forth a variety of clouds, including Aonui (dense clouds), Aopōuri (dark clouds), Aowhētuma (fiery clouds), Aowhēkere (clouds which precede strong winds), Aokanapanapa (clouds reflecting glowing red light), Aopakakina (clouds coming from all quarters and wildly bursting), Aopakarea (thunderstorm clouds), and Aotakawe (clouds hurriedly flying).

Tāwhirimātea attacks his brothers: To take revenge on his brothers, Tāwhirimātea first attacked Tāne Mahuta – the god of the forest, who had separated Rangi and Papa. The mighty trees of Tāne’s domain were snapped in two and fell to the ground. Then Tāwhirimātea attacked Tangaroa, the god of the sea, causing the waves to grow as tall as mountains. After this he turned on Rongomātāne, whose domain was cultivated food and the kūmara (sweet potato), and Haumia-tikitiki, god of fern root and uncultivated food. To escape, they hid within their mother Papatūānuku. That is why kūmara and fern root burrow into the earth.

Rain, hail and dew: During this time, Tāwhirimātea also released Uanui (terrible rain), Uaroa (long-continued rain) and Uawhatu (fierce hailstorms). Their offspring were Haumaringi (mist), Haumarotoroto (heavy dew), and Tōmairangi (light dew).

Tāwhirimātea and Tūmatauenga: Tāwhirimātea finally attacked Tūmatauenga, the god of war and of humans. Tūmatauenga stood firm and endured the fierce weather his brother sent. He developed incantations to cause favourable winds, and tūā (charms or spells) to bring fair weather. Because neither brother can win, Tāwhirimātea continues to attack people in storms and cyclones, trying to destroy them on sea and land.

The connection to the Kahu: There is only one bird when I think of the weather and the winds and that is the Kahu, the way it rides the wind and the speed really connects to Tāwhirimateā.