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Kia ora, welcome!
Antony Harris Head of Stamps and Collectables
Welcome to the latest issue of Focus.
The NZ Post commemorative stamp programme has a history of offering windows into the past, and the first two issues of 2025 took a look back into the previous century.
The first took us back to February 1950, when Tamaki Makaurau Auckland hosted the British Empire Games. This historic sporting event brought 12 Commonwealth nations together, with New Zealand placing an impressive third on the medal table. Our February stamp issue marked the 75th anniversary of Aotearoa New Zealand’s first-ever Commonwealth Games.
In March, we issued four stamps highlighting some of the animals who have given their lives to serve their nation. Pigeons, horses, dogs, donkeys and mules weren’t the only creatures to participate in the wars
of the 20th century. Canaries and mice also played their part, and war researcher Sue Baker Wilson sings their praises on pages 4 and 5.
Again on important creatures, late last year we were pleased to highlight the role of birds, bats and bugs in Aotearoa New Zealand’s ecosystem. Native Pollinators combined the eclectic illustrations of Giselle Clarkson with the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s essential native pollinating insects, of whom many only pollinate native plants. Dr David Pattemore wrote about these fascinating critters for The New Zealand Collection 2024, and you can read an extract from his essay on page 16.
If there are animals in your life that are important to you, you might consider using our personalised stamps service for those you think merit an appearance on New Zealand postage. As long as you have permission to use the images, you can employ the Personalised Stamps tool on our website. We were delighted to hear from one of our regular personalised stamp customers, who had a fascinating story to share on page 14.
Aside from producing stamps and coins, NZ Post has proudly offered a range of other collectables over the years, and you might have noticed some recent changes to our offerings. We’ve been digging through the archives to create some new and exciting gifts and collectables, with some of New Zealand’s most iconic stamp artwork on display. Programme and Content Manager Lynette Townsend dives into some of the details on page 12.
Each year NZ Post takes the time to reconnect with the global coin industry at several international coin shows. The World Money Fair in Berlin is one of the biggest coin fairs in the world, and Business Relationship Manager Nauman Chaudhry was in attendance. Read his report on page 18.
Speaking of coins, we’re thrilled to be giving the mighty pouākai - Haast’s eagle - another moment in the spotlight with the 2025 New Zealand Annual Coin. Designed by Dave Burke, a 1oz version of the coin will also feature in the 2025 New Zealand Proof Currency Set. Exclusive to Focus readers, we’ve included a preview of this product on page 19.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Focus
Antony Harris Head of Stamps and Collectables
The Tunnellers’ friend
‘Down in the velvetblack underground, the yellow sentinel is on duty,’ writes war researcher Sue Baker Wilson.
During the First World War, the New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company was the first New Zealand unit to arrive in France. The underground war meant that even the smallest of creatures would soon play their parts alongside the Tunnellers.
Otago University School of Mines
Professor Daniel Black Waters went to war as a Captain with the New Zealand Tunnellers. On his return, he told the story of how chalk in the Arras district would sometimes release carbon monoxide when worked, and that the gas had proved ‘somewhat of a menace’.
Canaries were known to be more susceptible to the poisonous gas than humans, so a caged canary was taken underground with each group of men, who had to watch the small bird as closely as they did their work. When
a canary fell from their perch it was time for the men to get out. A story the Professor also told was of a written report that recorded the enemy being so close that a horse eating its oats could be heard, to which some wag added ‘and could hear the canary fall off its perch.’
Caged canaries were also used in other enclosed spaces, like dugouts where chlorine, phosgene and sulphur mustard fumes might linger after gas attacks. Why are canaries more quickly affected by gas than humans are? Birds have a higher metabolic rate than humans. In this case their more rapid breathing and blood circulation rates meant that in an atmosphere that would affect a man in half an hour, a canary would be affected in two minutes. When a canary began panting for breath or could no longer grip its perch that meant gas, and time to leave. At least three canaries were required to be at each mine rescue station or officer’s dugout.
These birds had long been used in coal mines - hence the well-known phrase ‘the canary in the coalmine’, meaning an early warning or an indication that something is wrong. In New Zealand, canaries were used after the 1914
Ralph’s Mine disaster at Huntly, to gauge the presence of gas. Reporting on the disaster two days after, the Otago Witness newspaper stated, ‘A number of canaries were released by the rescue party at the west end of the shaft, but only one of these returned, and this in an almost dying condition.’
One Huntly miner who survived the disaster had two brothers who enlisted in the Tunnelling Company. They would have been familiar with seeing canaries underground. In 1918, during a fire at the Waihi Martha goldmine, canaries were also used to check for carbon monoxide. New Zealand miners who served in France would have been able to compare stories with those at home on how canaries had saved lives.
The tunnellers’ reliance on canaries to keep them alive soon meant that the birds had quite a fuss made of them. They were well looked after, certainly well fed and even given regular pedicures. The latter activity was purely practical. If your canary falls off their perch when exposed to gas, you don’t want them to have long claws that grip too tightly. In the early days when warfare reached a stalemate, the success of an allied assault relied on support from soldiers working
underground. The length of a canary’s claws was no small matter.
Mice were also used for the same reason. They were required to be at the mine rescue station or officer’s dugout. It was observed that while canaries were more sensitive to carbon monoxide, mice, if properly trained, were not so easily frightened. However, it was also noted that the mice tended to be quite sluggish in their movements and ‘would have to be prodded from time to time as they have a tendency to be quiet’.
Both canaries and mice received newspaper coverage during the war, although the canaries seemed to get the greater share. In 1916, it was reported that, ‘one of the New Zealand canaries was killed in one of the mine shocks the Germans tried to put across our boys’. In 1917, another newspaper article featured a canary named Bobbie, reporting that if he were a man, he would have many medal ribbons but ‘all he gets is an extra ration of his favourite seed’.
The Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle features both canaries and mice in a memorial dedicated to ‘The Tunnellers Friends’. If you visit Arras, at the site of Carriere Wellington museum - which features the story of the New Zealand Tunnellers - look for the wee mouse on New Zealand-born, Paris-based artist Marian Fountain’s sculpture, ‘The Earth Remembers’. As well as honouring the NZE Tunnellers, the role of the smallest of creatures is also remembered. If you are passing through Waihi in New Zealand, you can visit the Tunnellers’ Memorial at Gilmour Reserve.
Animals in Service commemorates the sacrifices of war and service animals. Stamps and first day covers were issued on 5 March 2025 and will be available until 4 March 2026.
Below: Canaries featured at an ANZAC Day event at the New Zealand Tunnelling Company Memorial in Waihi; Animals in Service set of four stamps
Recent stamp issues
Native Pollinators
The animals that we call pollinators are not grouped under that term because of a shared genetic heritage, but because of a shared function they perform in the ecosystem. Just as we often do not recognise the full breadth of the weird and wonderful creatures pollinating the flowers around us, they don’t know they are pollinators - they are just busy living their best lives.
The Native Pollinators stamp issue highlights four crucial critters - the kawakawa looper moth, the native bee/ ngāro huruhuru, the flower longhorn beetle and the large hoverfly.
Technical information
Date of issue: 6 November 2024
Designer: Nick Jarvie, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand with illustrations by Giselle
Clarkson
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 5 November 2025
2025 Year of the Snake
The Lunar New Year is an exciting time of new prospects. Each Zodiac animal brings its own characteristics, providing a fresh approach to prosperity.
The snake is an often underappreciated creature seen by many as sneaky, calculating and treacherous. However, snakes also have an undeniable beauty. Their elegant structure makes them a popular design in Chinese jewellery, each snake painstakingly carved into jade pendants and charms.
Elegance is a huge theme in the Lunar New Year aesthetic. You can see it in the careful gold swirls of calligraphy, in the bold red lanterns, in the shiny silk cheongsam and even in the crimped edges of dumplings. The new year is a time of joy and celebration, and having beautiful objects all around promotes fortune for the months ahead.
Technical information
Date of issue: 15 January 2025
Designer: YMC Design, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 14 January 2026
The British Empire Games 1950 In February 1950, New Zealand hosted the British Empire Games - now known as the Commonwealth Games - for the first time.
At the time it was by far the biggest international sporting event ever held in this country. Based in Auckland, it took place only a few years after the end of the Second World War and was seen as an opportunity to reinforce New Zealand’s ties with other Commonwealth countries.
Five hundred and ninety athletes from 12 countries competed in 11 sports, watched by a total of 246,694 paying spectators. The 1950 Empire Games were long remembered as a spectacular sporting event that marked an end to post-war austerity.
Technical information
Date of issue: 5 February 2025
Designer: YMC Design, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 4 February 2026
Animals in Service
Animals have made vital contributions to the armed forces of New Zealand throughout our nation’s history.
In war and in peace, animals and soldiers have worked alongside each other. As beasts of burden, messengers, protectors, mascots and companions, these war animals have demonstrated true valour and enduring partnerships with New Zealand soldiers. The bond is unbreakable, their sacrifice great.
In memory and honour of all those who have served Aotearoa New Zealand, the four stamps in this issue depict a range of animals and their stories.
Technical information
Date of issue: 5 March 2025
Designer: Sumin Ha, NZ Post, Auckland, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 4 March 2026
Recent coin issues
Mangōpare
The graphic depiction of the mangōpare is widely used in many contexts and situations within te ao Māori (the Māori world) and te ao Whānui (the wider population). Coin designer Dave Burke has illustrated the mangōpare surrounded by mangopare kowhaiwhai patterns. The coin has a proof finish with selective colours evoking the habitat of the shark.
Technical information
Date of issue: December 2024
Designer: Dave Burke, Tauranga, New Zealand
Mint: Royal Dutch Mint
Worldwide limited mintage: 1,000
RRP: $189.00
Water Taniwha
Minted in gold and silver, this coin features an illustration of a water taniwha by New Zealand artist Dave Burke. As well as living in the celestial realm, taniwha are known to dwell in te ao kikokiko (the terrestrial realm), and many narratives speak of them. These stories give names and locations of taniwha, and describe the form and appearance each taniwha assumes. There are also waiata (songs) and haka (dances) attributed to taniwha. Taniwha in their earthly form are often elemental in appearance, and include wood, wind, water or stone. Whether celestial or terrestrial, taniwha are a special part of te ao Māori and the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Technical information
Date of issue: February 2025
Designer: Dave Burke, Tauranga, New Zealand
Mint: BH Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH
Worldwide limited mintage: 1,000
RRP: $189.00
2025 Kiwi
The rowi is currently the rarest of New Zealand’s five kiwi species. Rowi evolved amidst Aotearoa’s dramatic glacial period, once extending up the South Island’s West Coast and into the lower North Island. They provided an important food source for Māori, who also used the birds’ bones for needlework. Their soft feathers were prized for weaving into kākahu (cloaks) reserved for ariki (high-ranking chiefs).
Rowi were almost driven to extinction by introduced predators. An intensive conservation effort utilising Operation Nest Egg has brought this national taonga (treasure) back from the brink.
Technical information
Date of issue: January 2025
Designer: Sacha Lees, Wellington, New Zealand
Mint: BH Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH
Worldwide limited mintages & RRPs:
• 1oz silver specimen coin: 5,000
• RRP: $109.00
• 1oz silver proof coin: 2,500
• RRP: $199.00
2oz silver proof coin: 250
• RRP: $399.00
5oz silver proof coin: 250
• RRP: $699.00
• ¼oz gold proof coin: 500
• RRP: $1,525.00
Upcoming stamp issues
Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show
The Rocky Horror Show is a stage musical with music, book and lyrics by British-New Zealander Richard O’Brien. O’Brien, who migrated to New Zealand with his parents at the age of 10 and who now calls Hamilton home, spent his young adulthood in the city, visiting movie theatres and dance halls before leaving for London in 1964.
Debuting in 1973, the first run of O’Brien’s satirical tribute to B movies, science fiction and horror moved around several locations in London before it closed in 1980. A 1975 film adaptation of the outrageous rock’n’roll musical helped to launch it into cult status. New Zealanders got to see the show for the first time in July 1978. Featuring key quotes and characters, the Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show stamp issue commemorates New Zealand Music Month in 2025.
Soil: The Foundation of Life
Whether you call it dirt, earth or soil, the matter that covers the surface of the land is vital to us all. Made up of a mixture of minerals, decaying organic material, air, water and living organisms, soil provides the foundation for life on the land. As one of Earth’s precious and finite resources, soil must be used wisely and managed well.
Soil quality underpins our wellbeing - it helps to meet our basic needs for food, it stores and filters water, it helps to mitigate flooding and climate change, and it traps pollutants. Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy has a large stake in soil health - our soil-dependent primary industries create over 70% of the country’s export earnings and are major employers. It also supports recreation, from sports to gardening. The stamp issue for June focuses on the importance of soil for people and planet.
Technical information
Date of issue: 7 May 2025
Designer: Nick Jarvie, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand with illustrations by Giselle Clarkson
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 6 May 2026
Technical information
Date of issue: 4 June 2025
Designer: Nick Jarvie, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Brebner Print, Napier, New Zealand
Withdrawal date: 3 June 2026
Jacqueline du Pré: A personalised stamp
There are many reasons to produce personalised stamps. During 1969 and 1970, Jacqueline du Pré toured Australia and New Zealand with the English Chamber Orchestra. Du Pré was widely regarded as the future greatest-ever cello player, writes stamp collector Tony Ward.
I had just completed my degree courses and was progressing to teacher training at the time. I enjoyed attending classical music concerts and was very impressed when I attended Jacqueline du Pré’s concert in Sydney.
In 1971, du Pré’s playing declined as she began to lose sensitivity in her fingers, and other parts of her body. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in October 1973. No longer able to play, she continued to teach until she passed away, after illness, on 19 October 1987, at the age of 42. I was deeply saddened; this was a meaningful event in my life.
Over the years I regularly listened to YouTube videos of du Pré playing Elgar’s Cello Concerto. I found them great to listen to, but sad to watch. The
Below: First day cover with gummed and self-adhesive stamps
recording of Schubert’s ‘Trout’ is joyous. In January 2025, if still alive, Jackie would have reached the age of 80. I thought it appropriate as a personal remembrance to produce some NZ Post personalised stamps that would reflect her obvious zest for life and connection with her cello.
There were not many public domain images that I was pleased with, so I reached out to Allegro Films, which had originally produced performance films of Jackie, and also the English Chamber Orchestra archive. Both groups appreciated my aim and helped in supplying suitable images for very limited use. All stamps produced were non-commercial, intended for swapping among fellow serious collectors.
Native Pollinators
The word ‘pollinator’ probably creates an image in your mind: a cloud of honey bees hovering outside the front of their hive, waiting their turn for space on the landing board; a large, fuzzy, black-and-yellow bumble bee on your lawn, making her way with far too much noise from flower to flower; or even an iconic, sparkling tui reaching up to sip nectar from golden kōwhai blooms against a backdrop of blue sky.
These are some of the many species regarded as pollinators, not because of a shared genetic heritage, but because of the shared function they perform in the ecosystem. They don’t know they’re pollinators, they’re just busy living their best lives – just as we often do not realise the full breadth of the weird and wonderful creatures pollinating the flowers around us.
Pollination is a crucial process in plant reproduction, as its grains are deposited on and fertilise a receptive flower and this leads to the production of seed. Not all plants need to be pollinated to proliferate, but most rely on it in order to persist, because it adds a crucial benefit in mixing up genes and improving plants’ resilience to changing conditions.
To understand why pollination is so important, we have to think about roots. Roots are wonderful conduits of all the good things that plants draw in from the soil to nourish themselves. However, roots keep plants rooted to single spots, so instead of being able to move around to find mates, they have to stay put, put on a show and spread. Not to attract other plants, but to recruit secondary agents to do the work for them: the pollinators.
Some pollinating agents are not living things. For example, most conifers use wind to blow huge clouds of pollen from one tree to the next - and people prone to hay fever are caught up in the collateral damage from amorous pine trees. Mostly, plants rely on animals - insects, birds, bats and reptiles among others – to move pollen from flower to flower, and plants recruit their pollinators through a dizzying array of techniques, from providing rewards such as food (nutritious pollen and sugary nectar) and cozy places to lay eggs to deceiving them by pretending to be mates.
Bees are hugely important pollinators, and intricately linked with the evolution of flowering plants. There are well over 20,000 bee species in the world, with
the European honey bee being just one of them. Our nearest neighbour, Australia, has more than 1,500 native species of bees, while here in Aotearoa New Zealand we have fewer than 30. It wasn’t until European colonists arrived that honey bees and bumble bees were introduced to New Zealand and native plants didn’t evolve to be pollinated by those sorts of bees.
Even though we have just a few bee species, our native bees are important pollinators. They can be spotted most often on mānuka flowers early in the flowering season or foraging on little yellow daisy-like flowers near the ground in November/December. They’re smaller than honey bees and can be a shiny black or covered with white or golden hairs. Unlike the introduced honey bees and bumble bees, our native bees are solitary; they don’t live in large colonies. Each female bee creates her own nest, often in the ground, where she lays several eggs and stores food for her young to feed on as they develop. Native bees have short lives, with some adults active in the environment for only weeks or a couple of months. But don’t be fooled by their small size and short active season; peaks in adult activity line up with the flowering periods of many native plants that rely on them for pollination.
This article is based on an essay by Dr David Pattemore that appears in The New Zealand Collection 2024. Native Pollinators was issued on 6 November 2024. Stamps will remain on sale until 5 November 2025.
The British Empire Games
Now known as the Commonwealth Games, the 1950 British Empire Games was the biggest international sporting event ever held in New Zealand.
Based in Auckland, the Games were held only a few years after the end of the Second World War and was seen as an opportunity to reinforce New Zealand’s ties with other Commonwealth countries.
Five hundred and ninety athletes from 12 countries competed in 11 sports, watched by a total 246,694 paying spectators. Highlights included New Zealand’s Yvette Williams winning gold in the long jump and silver in javelin, and Harold Nelson winning the 6-mile race. New Zealand won 10 gold, 22 silver and 22 bronze medals to place third on the medal table behind Australia and England.
The stamps in this series give a taste of the games by showing some athletes in action. The 1950 Empire Games were long remembered as a spectacular sporting event that marked an end to post-war austerity.
$2.30 Yvette Williams
Depicted here winning the long jump, Williams was an outstanding all-round athlete. In 1952 she became the first New Zealand woman to win an Olympic medal. She set a new world long jump record in 1954. Williams was judged by experts to be New Zealand’s best athlete of the 20th century.
$3.60 Women’s 220 yards heats
Daphne Robb of South Africa defeats Dorothea Parker of New Zealand, with Australian Verna Johnston third. The games were attended by competitors from 12 countries.
$4.30 John ‘Dutch’ Holland
Holland won the silver medal in the 440 yards hurdles and along with Dave Batten, Jack Sutherland and Derek Steward, won bronze in the 4 x 440 yards relay.
$4.90 Men’s 100-kilometre road race
The cycling road race covered 12 laps of a testing circuit in the Auckland suburb of Parnell. While most events took place in Auckland, rowing was held on a recently created hydro lake at Karāpiro in Waikato.
The British Empire Games 1950 stamps were issued on 5 February 2025. Stamps and first day covers will be available until 4 February 2026.
Below, right: The British Empire Games 1950 set of four stamps
Below: Yvette Williams competing in the long jump.
World Money Fair 2025
Below: Coin displays and visitors at the World Money Fair 2025, Berlin
Attending the World Money Fair in Berlin has always been an eyeopening experience, writes Nauman Chaudhry, Business Relationship Manager.
Every year the World Money Fair introduces us to fresh opportunities and trends. It also offers a wonderful chance to reconnect with current partners, as well as opportunities to engage with potential clients and suppliers for future collaborations and ventures.
The World Money Fair 2025 was a standout event for the numismatic community. From historic artifacts to cutting-edge advancements, and from engaging discussions to awe-inspiring
moments, as in previous years, we came across some amazing rare coins, innovative minting technology and some stunning modern coins. It was truly special!
A standout attraction for many attendees was the Minting Experience Centre, showcasing the technical side of the World Money Fair. It spanned over 100 square metres and visitors could witness the entire minting process of a medal - from edge embossing and cleaning to the actual minting and personalised laser engraving. Those interested had the chance to mint their own World Money Fair collector’s medal, taking home a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
The opening ceremony was particularly memorable, celebrating the guest of honour, the Federal Mint of Switzerland, ‘Swissmint’, with a delightful choir and the enchanting sounds of alpine horns, creating a warm atmosphere soaked
in tradition and Swiss charm. As the guest of honour, Swissmint unveiled a remarkable coin: the new edition of the iconic 100-franc gold Vreneli. After a century, this legendary collector’s item made a victorious return, becoming one of the fair’s major highlights!
Alongside numerous new releases from international mints, the specialist presentations at the Media Forum and Investment Forum added to the excitement of the trade fair. Moreover, many table dealers had opportunities to connect with collectors on modern circulation money and their offerings, ensuring there was something for everyone.
The World Money Fair 2025 beautifully combined tradition and innovation, and we can’t wait for next year’s event, featuring the Guest of Honour from Gibraltar: The Tower Mint London.
