Focus is produced by the NZ Post Collectables team and brings you news and background information on stamps, coins and other products.
To subscribe to Focus and join the NZ Post mailing list, please tick the appropriate box when you complete the order form supplied with this issue, or contact: NZ Post Collectables: FreePost No.1
NZ Post Collectables Private Bag 3001 Whanganui 4541 New Zealand Ph: +64 6 262 7262.
You can find out more about our stamps, coins and other products and order online at: collectables.nzpost.co.nz nzpost.co.nz/ personalisedstamps
From there you can also subscribe to our email updates on the latest stamp, coin and other products on offer from NZ Post. You can also view a list of all philatelic clubs and societies and their contact details.
This issue of Focus has been printed on Neo Satin paper from B&F Papers. B&F Papers is committed to being an environmentally responsible company with Forest Stewardship Council® and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
ISSN 1177-729X (Print) ISSN 2703-4569 (Online)
Please note: The finished products may differ from those illustrated in this newsletter.
Focus may not illustrate all stamp, coin and collectable products that are featured in this issue or that appear in the order form.
Artwork and articles from Focus may not be extracted for reprinting without prior permission from NZ Post Collectables. For more information and to request permission, please contact the Programme Manager, NZ Post Collectables, Private Bag 39990, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045, New Zealand.
Cover image: Queen Elizabeth II, 1977 Silver Jubilee Tour
Kia ora, welcome!
Antony Harris Head of Stamps and Collectables
Welcome to the latest issue of Focus.
This year we witnessed the historic coronation of King Charles III. King Charles was crowned over eight months after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and his instantaneous accession to the throne.
To commemorate the Queen’s extraordinary life and legacy as New Zealand's monarch, stamps and coins were issued in September. The stamps look back at several of Her Majesty’s visits to New Zealand, as well as when she attended events in her capacity as Queen of New Zealand. The coins reflect the length of her reign with an image of the young Queen after her coronation, and a recent portrait.
Queen Elizabeth was well known for her love of animals, particularly horses and especially for her Corgis. New Zealanders share the Queen’s enthusiasm for animal companionship, so in August we were pleased to share four special Kiwi pets through stamps. The four
winners of the Pets of Aotearoa New Zealand competition were a cat, a dog, a bird and a sheep.
Aside from the stamps commemorating the Queen, several more of our stamp issues this year took a look back at the past. In July we showcased nine New Zealandmade toys. Created in the mid-20th century, these toys represent a golden era for New Zealand-made toys. You might recognise some of them, or even have one stashed away from your or a parent’s childhood. The examples in this issue have been collected by museums including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Te Papa holds a vast collection of New Zealand stamps, and continues to collect them today. We took another look back this year with a special miniature sheet commemorating the first stamp to be designed and printed in New Zealand. The 1873 newspaper stamp was issued 150 years ago, and featured an image of Queen Victoria, who was the reigning monarch at the time of issue.
This year New Zealand had the enormous privilege of co-hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™, and it was amazing to see New Zealanders of all stripes get into the excitement. It turned out to be a landmark event for football (soccer to some) in New Zealand, with Auckland’s Eden Park hosting the most highly attended New Zealand-hosted football game of all time. We were
proud to issue a special miniature sheet to mark the occasion.
With this issue you'll find out more about the backround on these stamp and coin issues, you'll meet a new NZ Post staff member, and you can catch up on all the latest stamp and coin issues.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Focus
Antony Harris Head of Stamps and Collectables
Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II
One year on from her passing, September's stamp issue commemorates the Queen's relationship with Aotearoa New Zealand and acknowledges 96 years of unwavering commitment. The stamps celebrate the Queen’s remarkable legacy, reflecting not just the evolution of her image but also her changing relationship with this country.
The stamps begin with an image taken during the Queen’s hugely popular 1953-54 Royal visit, a tour that occurred not long after the Queen’s coronation. The stamps also remember her attendance at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, her silver Jubilee tour in 1977, when she officially opened the new government building - the Beehive, a visit in 2002 when she
Below: Queen Elizabeth II replying to an address of welcome in Timaru.
attended the America’s Cup during her Jubilee tour, and another from the same visit when she visited Rehua, a Ngāi Tahu marae in Christchurch. A sixth stamp shows the Queen in her official role as Queen of New Zealand, at London’s Hyde Park commemorating the First and Second World Wars on Armistice Day in 2006.
In each stamp the Queen is pictured wearing a hat, a fashion accessory she was rarely seen without. Even as a child, she was photographed in bonnets and berets. The Queen continued to wear hats even when they went out of fashion. They remained a significant part of her distinctive style.
The history of Queen Elizabeth II’s presence on New Zealand postage stamps is a captivating journey through time. Each stamp tells a unique story, celebrating a significant milestones or event in her reign. Together, they provide a visual record of her enduring connection with Aotearoa New Zealand.
Coronation splendour
One of the most iconic stamp releases featuring Queen Elizabeth II was the 1953 Coronation issue. These stamps commemorated the Queen's coronation, showcasing the grandeur and elegance of the event. The designs not only portrayed Her Majesty with her coronation regalia, but also captured the spirit of the occasion, making the stamps prized collectables for philatelists worldwide.
Recently, some historical Queen Elizabeth II stamps were released as stamp prints. The stamps depict the Queen wearing her crown and are embellished with native flora. Created using macrophotography, details in the original stamps have been preserved in the prints.
Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II embarked on numerous royal visits and celebrated many milestones. All
of these occasions were marked by special stamp releases that allowed collectors to chronicle the Queen’s journey, her role as the Queen of New Zealand and the events that shaped her reign.
Examples include stamps issued to commemorate the Queen's Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees. Together the issues showcase the evolution of her image over the years and the changing design trends in philately.
The future of philately
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the future of philately takes on a new dimension. Stamp collectors around the world will likely seek to commemorate her life and reign through special issues and tributes. These future stamp releases will capture the Queen’s enduring influence on the world of philately and continue to connect collectors with the rich history of her reign.
1
2
Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy lives on not only in the hearts of her people but also in the world of stamp collecting. The numerous stamp releases featuring her image tell stories. As collectors continue to treasure and seek out these stamps, they ensure that the memory of this remarkable monarch will endure for generations to come. Above: 1 $2.00 Royal Visit 1953-54 stamp. 2 $2.00 Silver Jubilee Tour 1977 stamp.
Right: 1 Gold-foiled miniature sheet. 2
First day cover and miniature sheet first day cover. 3 $2.00 Commonwealth Games stamp. 4 Presentation pack. 5 $3.30 Rehua Marae stamp.
Facing page: Queen Elizabeth II at the America's Cup Village, 2002.
On stamps on stamps
In December of 1864, a 1d rate was imposed on the delivery of newspapers in New Zealand. Throughout the following decade, the rate was removed, replaced and changed several times, until finally a rate of ½d was introduced on 1 January 1873. In conjunction with the reduction in price, a special newspaper stamp was issued for the payment of this fee.
The stamp was the first where the design and printing plate production and preparation and printing plates themselves were completed in New Zealand. It was designed by John Davies, the Government Printer, based on that of a contemporary English ½d stamp of Great Britain and with a side view of a young Queen Victoria’s head. Across the top are the words ‘New Zealand’, and down each side is the value, with ‘Newspaper Postage’ printed across the bottom.
So that the stamp would be ready for issue in January 1873, 717,600 were printed in 1872. The stamps were surface printed in Wellington. The last
printing was in 1892, and the stamp remained in use until 1895 when it was superseded by the ½d black Second Sideface issue.
To showcase the design of the original stamp, the 1873 Newspaper Stamp issue has a ‘stamp on stamp’ treatment. In the past century, NZ Post has issued several commemoratives in this style.
The 2009 Children's Health80th Anniversary stamp issue commemorated the 80th anniversary of Te Puna Whaiora - the New Zealand Foundation for Child and Family Health and Development. The stamps in this issue featured reproductions of
2
3
1873
Facing page: 1
1873 Newspaper Stamp miniature sheet first day cover. 2 2009 Children's Health - 80th Anniversary 50c stamp.
3 Christmas 2010 $2.90 stamp. 4
150 Years of Stamps 1905-1955 $1.35 stamp.
historical Children’s Health stamps, which were partly funded through annual sales of health stamps and covers. Issued between 1929 and 2016, the popular stamps and their accompanying posters were also used to promote a vision of New Zealand as +a healthy, humanitarian country.
In 2010 NZ Post commemorated the 50th anniversary of the issue of Christmas stamps. Printed with metallic silver, the stamps featured images of stamp sheets from popular Christmas issues of the previous halfcentury.
The 60c Christmas 1960 gummed stamp, New Zealand’s very first Christmas stamp, depicted Rembrandt’s painting ‘The Adoration of the Shepherds’. The $1.20 1970 3c gummed stamp showcased a stamp featuring the window from the First Presbyterian Church in Invercargill. The $2.40 stamp featured the 1983 Christmas 45c stamp, which depicted the Southern Cross and the Star of Bethlehem. Finally, the $2.90 stamp looked back at a Mary and Baby Jesus stamp issued in the year 2000.
Christmas stamps are still issued by NZ Post annually, and are the most popular recurring stamp issues.
In 2005 we celebrated the 150th anniversary of New Zealand’s first stamps with a superb 'collector's collection' - 15 stamps that together represented some of the country's landmark issues as judged by nominees from the New Zealand Philatelic Federation. In 2005 the stamps were released in three instalments: March (1855 - 1905), April (1905 - 1955) and June (1955 - 2005).
You can find more examples of historical stamps, including those with stamp-on-stamp reproductions, in the historical stamps section of our website.
Right:
Newspaper Stamp miniature sheet.
Recent issues Stamps & coins
King Charles III
Charles III, the King of New Zealand, succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as sovereign immediately upon her death on 8 September 2022. This was to ensure that there was never a moment in which the nation was without a monarch.
To commemorate the accession of the King, this stamp issue featuring four recent portraits was issued just days before his coronation. The coronation confers no special powers and does not affect the legal validity of the sovereign’s position. Nevertheless, it is an important day in the history of the nation, a vibrant shared experience for the public, and an occasion of deep personal significance in the life of the monarch.
Technical information
Date of issue: 3 May 2023
Designer: Hannah Fortune, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 2 May 2024
NZ2023 International Stamp Exhibition
Held on 4-7 May 2023, NZ2023 was the first international stamp exhibition held in New Zealand since the successful NZ1990 World Stamp Exhibition.
Hosted by the Ellerslie Event Centre, Auckland, NZ2023 was held under the patronage of the Federation of InterAsian Philately.
Along with dealers and postal agencies, NZ Post was in attendance as the major sponsor and had staff and a sales booth with special souvenirs and postmarks available. There were four miniature sheets issued to commemorate the exhibition, with limited-edition versions available only at the exhibition and issued on each day.
Technical information
Date of issue: 4-7 May 2023
Designer: NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 3-6 May 2024
King Charles III Coronation
In a resplendent formal ceremony, on 6 May 2023 King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned in Westminster Abbey, where all but two British monarchs have been crowned in the past 900 years.
Featuring seven images from the coronation, this special commemorative sheetlet was created in Wellington shortly after the ceremony.
Technical information
Date of issue: 8 May 2023
Designer: Hannah Fortune, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 7 May 2024
2023 Scenic Definitives
The Great Walks are spread throughout the country. Taking between three and six days to complete, they’ll lead you through native forests, past pristine lakes and rivers, over majestic mountains and into lush valleys. The most northern walk is the Lake Waikaremoana Track on the east coast of the North Island. The Tongariro Northern Circuit is in the central North Island, and the Whanganui Journey is on the Whanganui River on the west of the North Island.
The South Island has the largest number of Great Walks, including the Abel Tasman Coast Track and the Heaphy Track in the Nelson/Tasman region, the Kepler, Milford, Routeburn and Rakiura Tracks in Fiordland, and the Paparoa Track on the West Coast of the South Island.
Technical information
Date of issue: 7 June 2023
Designer: NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: None
Mid-century Toys
The mid-20th century was a golden era for New Zealand-made toys. A postWorld War Two baby boom, coupled with a blossoming economy and thriving local manufacturing industry, meant that the range of locally made toys was extensive. These stamps represent some of the best-known examples of the era.
Whatever the origin, material or history, one thing all toys have in common is their nostalgic appeal and the strong childhood memories that only this type of object can evoke.
Technical information
Date of issue: 5 July 2023
Designer: Helen Perkins, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 4 July 2024
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™
In 2023, the world’s top women’s football teams gathered to compete for the honour of winning the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™.
Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand co-hosted this global football event, and millions of enthralled fans had their eyes fixed on the games on both sides of the Tasman Sea from 20 July to 20 August.
Including postage for medium and large letters to Australia, this commemorative miniature sheet features vibrant artwork created in collaboration with Māori and First Nations artists for the tournament. The patterns in the Official Look reflect the diversity of Australia’s and Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultures and landscapes, and the beautiful game of football.
Technical information
Date of issue: 5 July 2023
Designer: Chris Jones, Graphetti, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 4 July 2024
2023 KiwiStamps
NZ Post rebranded in 2021. The new look united all NZ Post services and represented a successful and sustainable future with a smaller impact on Earth.
NZ Post’s delivery vehicles are instantly recognisable as they travel across the country delivering items people care about.
NZ Post is on a journey to help build a cleaner, greener future. We're well on the way to having 100 per cent of our road vehicle fleet and 25 per cent of Delivery Partners’ vans electrified by 2025. We’re committed to using sustainable and accountable processes both locally and globally to measure and limit our impact and achieve our goal of becoming totally carbon neutral by 2030.
Pets of Aotearoa New Zealand
Companion animals - pets - are essential parts of life for the majority of New Zealanders. Each year, Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ) releases a report on the companion animal population. CANZ promotes the practice of responsible companion animal guardianship. According to the CANZ 2020 Report, there are more than 4.35 million companion animals in New Zealand - nearly equalling the population of humans.
To celebrate the special relationships between humans and their companion animals, NZ Post asked Kiwis to submit images of their pets for selection to feature in our Pets of Aotearoa New Zealand stamp issue. The finalists were Spencer the dog, Zita the cat, Kea the parrot (not a kea!) and Oh-good the sheep.
Technical information
Date of issue: N/A
Designer: NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: None
Technical information
Date of issue: 2 August 2023
Designer: Hannah Fortune, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 1 August 2024
1873 Newspaper Stamp
A rate of ½d was introduced for the delivery of newspapers in New Zealand on 1 January 1873. In conjunction with a reduction in price, a special newspaper stamp was issued for the payment of this fee.
The stamp was the first where the design and printing plate production and preparation and printing plates themselves were completed in New Zealand. It was designed by John Davies, the Government Printer, based on that of a contemporary English ½d stamp of Great Britain and with a side view of a young Queen Victoria’s head. Across the top are the words ‘New Zealand’ and down each side is the value, with ‘Newspaper Postage’ printed across the bottom. In August 2023 a special miniature sheet was issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of this historic stamp.
Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2023
Queen Elizabeth II was the longestreigning British monarch. She reigned for over 70 years, from 6 February 1952 until her death during her Platinum Jubilee year at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, on 8 September 2022.
Following Queen Elizabeth’s death, she was interred on 19 September 2022 in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, part of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, with the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on 9 April 2021, and her parents, King George VI (1895-1952) and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1900-2002).
Queen Elizabeth visited New Zealand 10 times, and was the first British monarch to set foot here. This stamp issue features six portraits of the Queen taken while on tour in New Zealand or taking part in occasions acting in her capacity as Queen of New Zealand.
Technical information
Date of issue: 2 August 2023
Designer: Caitlin McArthur, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 1 August 2024
Technical information
Date of issue: 6 September 2023
Designer: Nick Jarvie, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 5 September 2024
Avatar: The Way of Water
Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. Shot in Aotearoa New Zealand, the film combines industry-leading technology with pristine locations to take audiences even deeper into the alien world of Pandora.
By combining breathtaking real-world landscapes with boundary-pushing technologies, the Avatar filmmakers created spectacular new worlds and populated them with compelling characters and themes on a scale the likes of which audiences had yet to experience. Two coin sets were issued to commemorate this achievement of New Zealand film-making.
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
To commemorate the legacy of the beloved children’s book series, these coins have been issued in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy written and illustrated by Dame Lynley Dodd.
Hairy Maclary literally fell out of Lynley Dodd’s scrapbook. She recalled how, when looking for a new idea, a tiny sketch of a dog, drawn years earlier on a slip of notepaper, dropped out from between the pages.
The original sketch would evolve over time into the dog we have come to know, but the essential elements were all there. With just a few strokes of her pen Lynley’s extraordinary ability to convey character, expression and movement brought Hairy Maclary to life. A star was born.
Technical information
Date of issue: May 2023
Designer: Chris Jones, Graphetti, Wellington, New Zealand
Mint: Sunshine Mint USA
Worldwide limited mintage:
'Pandoran Fauna' set of two 1oz silver proof coins: 1,000 sets
'Neytiri and Jake' set of two 1oz silver proof coins: 1,000 sets
Technical information
Date of issue: May 2023
Designer: Hannah Fortune, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Mint: BH Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH
Worldwide limited mintage:
• 1oz silver proof coin: 750
• Brilliant uncirculated coin: 750
Ruaumoko: Guardian of the Volcanoes Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother), the primordial parents, held each other in a tight embrace and bore many sons. Tāne - the god of the forest - separated his parents, creating the world of light. Rangi and Papa were heartbroken when they parted.
The older brothers were infuriated by the endless rain and sadness, and decided to turn their mother away from her love. Rūaumoko was at his mother’s breast, so he was carried to the underworld.
Rūaumoko still moves under the earth, creating earthquakes and volcanoes.
The Queen was born on 21 April 1926 in London, the elder of two daughters of the then Duke and Duchess of York. On 10 July 1947 the Princess became engaged to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, RN, who became Duke of Edinburgh on their marriage on 20 November 1947. The royal couple departed England in January 1952 for a tour of several Commonwealth countries including New Zealand. While in Kenya Princess Elizabeth’s beloved father King George VI died, and she succeeded to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen was universally recognised and admired. She was the most photographed woman in the world and her image appeared on postage stamps, coinage and banknotes issued by New Zealand and in her other realms and territories. She was succeeded by her heir Charles III on 8 September 2022.
Technical information
Date of issue: September 2023
Designer: Fuller Design, Wellington, New Zealand
Mint: Royal Dutch Mint
Worldwide limited mintage:
• 1oz silver proof coin: 1,000
• ¼oz gold proof coin: 350
• 1oz gold proof coin: 70
Upcoming issues Stamps
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 20th Anniversary Bringing JRR Tolkien’s epic quest of hobbits, humans, and elves to a close, The Return of the King marked the end of a huge filming achievement. The final The Lord of the Rings film closed a long journey for actors, extras, and film-workers from around Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.
The Return of the King went on to break records at the box office and the Academy Awards, winning in every category it was nominated for (eleven in total). Oscars for visual effects, costume design, and makeup illustrated the skills of workers at Wellington’s Wētā Workshop and Wētā FX. As Nancy Swarbrick notes in Te Ara – The Encylopedia of New Zealand, the film’s stunning financial and critical success further increased international interest in Aotearoa New Zealand as a place to make big budget movies.
2024 Year of the Dragon
The Year of the Dragon is a particularly fortuitous one. Those who are born under this zodiac sign are said to be charismatic, powerful and naturally lucky. It’s said that their disposition naturally draws them towards leadership, and thus they enjoy success, wealth and prosperity. These are often seen as ideal traits in Chinese culture, with many people favouring the Year of the Dragon for making important life decisions.
The stamps for this year were designed by Ying-Min Chu. They were inspired by a variety of Chinese New Zealand stories: Eden noodles on Dominion Road, the Ah Chee market gardeners, the 1865 gold rush in Otago and Thomas Dong Woo’s firework business. They display a colourful array of chubby, cherub-like figures. Depictions of Chinese dragons mingle with Māori designs, intertwining the Chinese and Kiwi cultures.
Technical information
Date of issue: 1 November 2023
Designer: Sacha Lees, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 31 October 2024
Technical information
Date of issue: 6 December 2023
Designer: YMC Design, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 5 December 2024
A long road to the biggest stage
Helena Wiseman Guest writer
In the very early hours of 25 June 2020, the faces of the most committed football fans were lit by screens. A particularly important FIFA Council vote was being livestreamed. As the clock ticked past 3:47am New Zealand time, the anxious silence in New Zealand Football headquarters was shattered by elated cheers.
The Sydney Opera House lit up in green, gold, black and white. A similar lightshow adorned Auckland’s Sky Tower. Social media feeds filled with the words ‘As One’ - the name of the winning World Cup hosting bid. FIFA had announced that the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup would be held in Australia and New Zealand.
It was a pre-dawn moment of celebration many years in the making. In 2019 both New Zealand and Australia had begun work on bids for the 2023 tournament, one of the world’s largest sporting events and the pinnacle of women’s football. There was tournament-hosting pedigree on both sides of the Tasman Sea. Both nations had held successful FIFA agegroup tournaments - New Zealand doing so most recently as the setting
for the 2015 Under 20 Men’s World Cup. On their own, both Australia and New Zealand could have put forward credible cases, but by the close of 2019 the two nations’ football federations had realised that together they made a formidable hosting pairing.
The prospective co-hosts’ intention was to use their geographical and cultural alignment to provide a stage for FIFA’s first-ever 32-team women’s World Cup, an opportunity that could leave a legacy for young girls in both nations. Football Australia and New Zealand Football together saw the bid as a chance to showcase and extend their efforts to make football accessible to all girls and women, and to bring the best players on the planet to their shores.
Helena Wiseman lives and plays football in Auckland. She started writing about her football teams in high school because no one else would. Helena interned at New Zealand Football and worked as the communications officer at the New Zealand Football Foundation. You can read her full article on the FIFA Women's World Cup in The New Zealand Collection 2023. Visit collectables.nzpost.co.nz to find out more.
Left: FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 miniature sheet.
Right: The New Zealand Collection 2023.
Great walks
Aotearoa New Zealand has 10 ‘Great Walks’ that include some of our most spectacular natural landscapes, unique wildlife and important historical sites. They traverse national parks and culturally significant protected areas. They are our most spectacular and coveted walks, or tramps as we like to call them here.
The Great Walks are spread throughout the country. The most northern walk is the Lake Waikaremoana Track on the east coast of the North Island, the Tongariro Northern Circuit is in the central North Island, and the Whanganui Journey is on the Whanganui River on the west of the North Island. The South Island has the largest number of Great Walks, including the Abel Tasman Coast Track and the Heaphy Track in the Nelson/ Tasman region, the Kepler, Milford, Routeburn and Rakiura Tracks in Fiordland, the Paparoa Track on the West Coast of the South Island.
The NZ Post Scenic Definitive stamps have for a long time featured gorgeous scenes from throughout New Zealand. It therefore seemed natural to focus on the Great Walks for the 2023 Scenic Definitives. We chose four of the Great Walks for our current release and will feature others in coming years.
$3.30 Emerald Lakes, Tongariro Crossing
Best attempted between late October and April, the Tongariro Northern Circuit Track takes walkers through herb fields, forests and desert plateaux. This walk includes a dramatic volcanic landscape with Emerald Lakes, whose vivid blues and greens can be attributed to dissolved minerals.
The Tongariro National Park is our oldest national park and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The area is full
of important historical and culturally significant places. The mountains have cultural and spiritual significance to Ngāti Tūwharetoa and symbolise the spiritual links between this community and its environment.
Many scenes from The Lord of the Rings were shot in this region. Mount Doom is a digitally altered version of Mount Ngāuruhoe, the highest mountain in Tongariro National Park.
$4.60 Routeburn Track
The Routeburn Track, also in a mountainous area, takes walkers past the spectacular Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana and offers incredible views of awe-inspiring mountains and ice-carved valleys. Easily accessible from Queenstown, the track can be completed in three days or visited for day walks. Here you will see alpine gardens, vistas over vast mountain ranges, waterfalls, beech forests, wetlands and tussock-covered flats.
The highest point of the track is 1,255 metres above sea level, and like the Tongariro Crossing it should not be attempted during winter.
$5.30 Te Urewera, Lake Waikaremoana
Te Urewera is the home of the Tūhoe people, and is recognised by New Zealand law as a living person. It encompasses the largest area of native forest remaining in the North Island and is home to nearly all species of
New Zealand’s native birds. Walkers are welcome and encouraged to visit with respect for Papatūānuku (mother earth).The walk follows the western side of Lake Waikaremoana and takes up to four days to complete.
$6.90 Abel Tasman National Park
Located at the top of the South Island, New Zealand’s smallest national park offers an idyllic coastal walk, with golden beaches neighboured by recovering native forest. The area is easily accessible and can be walked or kayaked, or you can water taxi in for a day trip. Here tūī and bellbird song fills the forest, and many seabirds can be seen, as well as fur seals lounging on the rocks.
Whether you yearn for the mountains or the sea, the Great Walks have it covered. We hope you love our new Scenic Definitive stamps as much as we do, and maybe even feel inspired to go bush.
The 2023 Scenic Definitives were issued on 7 June to reflect changes in postal rates. Find out more at collectables.nzpost.co.nz.
Companion animals - pets - are essential parts of life for the majority of New Zealanders. Each year, Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ) releases a report on the companion animal population.
CANZ promotes the practice of responsible companion animal guardianship. According to the CANZ 2020 Report, there are more than 4.35 million companion animals in New Zealand - nearly equalling the population of humans.
Globally, it’s been estimated that more than 50 per cent of all people have at least one companion animal in their lives. When it comes to the proportion of households that give homes to companion animals, New Zealand is second only to the United States. It’s clear that Kiwis love their pets.
To celebrate the special relationships between humans and their companion animals, NZ Post asked Kiwis to submit images of their pets for selection to star in our August stamp issue. The winners were Spencer the dog (Best Dressed), Zita the cat (Cutest in Show), Kea the parrot (Cheekiest Rascal) and Oh-good the sheep (Kiwi Spirit).
Spencer
According to CANZ, as of 2020 34 per cent of New Zealand households have at least one dog, up from 28 per cent in 2015. This number may have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, as people sought companionship in times of lockdowns and essential daily walks.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Spencer has impeccable fashion sense. He shares his house with Sadie Mae, another cavalier, cat tormentor Luna and his human mum, dad and brothers. He is obsessed with water and prefers humans to other dogs.
Cavaliers were first introduced in the 1920s as a cross between King Charles and Cocker Spaniels in an attempt to replicate the aesthetic of dogs seen in portraits from the era of England’s Charles II. Easy to train, they are known to be playful and gentle with people and other animals. Their regal origins are reflected in the care they need - they should be kept indoors and their long coats need to be brushed regularly. Despite being classified as a toy breed, they require plenty of play, exercise and training.
Zita
Three-year-old Seal Point Ragdoll Zita is cute and she knows it. She loves to patrol the neighbourhood and pose for Instagram.
CANZ reports that 74 per cent of cat owners consider their feline companions to be part of the family. A Seal Point Ragdoll has a very dark brown color on its points - ears, nose, legs and tail. Its name is derived from the similarity of the brown in their fur to the colour of seals. They are known as Ragdolls because of their tendancy to go limp when picked up, which makes them extra cuddly. Ragdoll kittens are typically born white with mesmerising blue eyes.
Ragdolls are larger cats and will live for 15 years or longer. These friendly felines are sometimes described as being dog-like, as they love to play and chase, adore human attention and will even play fetch.
Kea
No, we have not mistaken this maroon-bellied conure for his native namesake! Kea likes to steal juice, climb up sleeves and yell for attention before switching to an innocent chirp. These characteristics earned him the accolade of ‘cheekiest rascal’ in the Pets of Aotearoa New Zealand stamp competition.
Also known as the maroon-bellied parakeet, these beautiful birds make for friendly, affectionate companions who can be by your side for up to 30 years.
In the wild these birds are found in dense South American woodlands and wetlands, mainly in Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. They are more commonly found in the wild than as pets.
Oh-good
Many New Zealanders who grow up in rural areas befriend companion sheep and lambs.
As grazers, sheep have different needs from those of the pets we might be used to. Sheep need access to food and clean water at all times. They require a spacious environment of pasture that is protected from predators and other dangers, with shade and shelter available. Sheep are social animals and like to have company. It’s ideal to keep a small group of sheep so they don't get lonely. They are intelligent and can be trained to respond to specific commands.
In this picture, Oh-good is around 18 months old. She likes to go wandering, and occasionally breaks into houses and sheds. She loves running along the fence line when she’s excited or sees her owner’s truck. Most of all, she loves foodespecially Gingernuts.
A toy story
Historical children’s toys are a rich source of nostalgia for many people. While they represent important aspects of history such as changing technology, fashions and new materials, many toys also embody compelling personal stories. Some bring back treasured childhood memories or are evocative of lifechanging events.
Each of the toys included in the Midcentury Toys stamp issue has a story to tell. All were made in Aotearoa New Zealand, either by hand or by a New Zealand manufacturer, and all were owned by children who grew up in this country.
One toy, a Māori doll made under licence in New Zealand by Pedigree, was owned by Lynn Hyde (nee Everitt). Lynn was eight years old when she was given the doll in 1961. It was to be a reminder of home when the family embarked on a trip to America and Britain. International travel was rare in the 1960s. Flights were extremely expensive and out of reach for most people. For those who could afford a trip, it was a very special, often lifechanging event.
Lynn began her journey by ship from Auckland to Miami. The family then flew to New York and then on to London. When disembarking in New York, an American couple stopped them and admired the doll, saying, “Oh what a cute little Indian doll”. A conversation about the doll's Māori origins sparked a friendship that lasted a lifetime. The American family came on holiday to New Zealand, and years later Lynn visited them in the USA while on her ‘big OE’.
When Lynn donated the doll to Te Papa, she said that she hoped her story would inspire others to approach strangers with the “spirit of friendship and generosity” she and her family had encountered, and that they would be rewarded with a lifelong treasure trove
of memories like these families were.
When the doll was chosen to feature on one of the Mid-century Toys stamps, Lynn was delighted to know her doll might travel again - albeit on a stamp. Perhaps the Māori doll stamp will take a letter or card with a message of love and be part of a new set of stories and memories between friends or families.
Mid-century Toys stamp sheetlet.
Staff profile Helen Perkins
Helen is a visual communications specialist in the NZ Post design team. She recently designed her first-ever stamp issue, and took some time to tell us a little about her approach to design.
What’s your design background?
I took a slightly unusual journey to becoming a designer in that I moved to Wellington to study law and criminology. However, after a year I realised that my passions lay in all things creative, and that my art could be more than a hobby. I dropped law and switched to design, and haven’t looked back. My focus at university was on multimedia design and I have specialised in video design, 3D modelling and animation and game design as well as more traditional graphics.
What’s your approach to design and what do you enjoy about it?
My approach to designing is solution oriented - design is a tool to communicate, and we need it to simplify and understand things
that might otherwise be dry and complicated. I like to spread my idea net as wide as possible before narrowing it down to the best solution. I really enjoy collaborating with other designers and combining our different strengths to create something.
What makes designing stamps different from other kinds of design work?
Designing stamps is unique; they carry a lot of history, and it is an interesting challenge to honour and represent this while also creating something new and modern. It is special to be making something that has a purpose; a lot of art is just to enjoy but stamps have a specific function as well as visual appeal. Also of course, the scale!
Stamps and coins are popular collectors’ items. Tell us about something you’ve collected. I went through a phase of collecting all things glass when I was younger - now my only real collection would be books, and random craft supplies if that counts!
If you could design anything, what would it be and why?
If I could design anything I would like to design a gallery exhibition of sorts with lots of different media. It would be an exciting challenge to have some physical art, some digital, some static, some video, all with a common theme.
