Recent coin issues

Discover New Zealand: Kōwhai - May 2021

The kōwhai is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most cherished trees, its vibrant yellow blooms and the birds that flock to them welcome signs of spring. Some species are semi-deciduous, and their bounteous golden flowers appear before rows of small, round leaves join them. The distinctive kōwhai flower is an icon that has featured on postage stamps and coins several times, including New Zealand’s former two-cent coin. Date of issue: May - June 2021 Designer: Stephen Fuller, Wellington, New Zealand. Kaitiaki designed by Dave Burke, Tauranga, New Zealand Mint: The Commonwealth Mint Worldwide mintage: 1,000

Tangaroa - Guardian of the Ocean

Tangaroa is a deity described in Māori traditions as the kaitiaki (guardian) of all oceans and waters. He is one of the children of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother), from whom life originates. Among various accounts throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific, Tangaroa is identified as the father of sea creatures. In some traditions, the sea is thought to be where all life originated. In traditional carvings, Māori ancestors can resemble amphibians - animals that can live on both land and water - with snake-like bodies and large heads. The pūhoro (wave) motif that surrounds Tangaroa makes reference to his ability to control the tides and waves, as well as his strength and power as guardian of the seas and waterways. The pūhoro design traditionally refers to speed and agility, depicting the cutting or rippling effect of the water or waves when a waka (canoe) travels. The pūhoro design is often used to adorn the prows of waka. The sea creatures within the design represent the many stories, traditions and lineage of Tangaroa, including the tohora or whale. Whales are viewed as the guardians of navigators. According to Māori oral tradition, whales guided canoes to New Zealand, and the ancestor Paikea is said to have arrived riding a whale. Date of issue: May 2021 Designer: KE Design, Tolaga Bay, New Zealand Mint: BH Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH Worldwide mintage: Set of two 1oz silver proof coins: 400 Set of two ½oz gold proof coins: 150

Kiwi are equally cherished by all cultures in New Zealand. They are a symbol of the uniqueness of New Zealand wildlife and the value of our natural heritage. The bird itself is a taonga (treasure) to Māori, who have strong cultural, spiritual and historical associations with kiwi. The 2021 Kiwi coin features the brown kiwi Apteryx mantelli in an underground burrow with two eggs. The brown kiwi nests in short burrows, rocky crevices or the hollow base of trees. The kiwi on this coin is likely male, as they do all the incubation in this species. One or two large eggs can be laid any time of year, but the peak time is between June and November. Kiwi have become a flagship or umbrella species for conservation and are often used as a measure of the state of our natural environment and the outcome and value of community conservation projects - where kiwi thrive, other native wildlife also thrives. Date of issue: May 2021 Designer: Helcia Berryman, Mopsy Creative, Raumati, New Zealand Illustrator: Stephen Fuller, Wellington, New Zealand Mint: BH Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH Worldwide mintage: 2oz silver coin with antique finish: 400 1kg silver proof coin: 100

Queen Elizabeth II Ninety-Fifth Birthday - May-June 2021

In some countries the British monarchy is associated with the rose and thistle, but in New Zealand it is associated with the silver fern and the mānuka flower, as can be seen in the insignia of the New Zealand Royal Honours system. Beyond these symbols, there are few other places in the world where members of the royal family can be as informal and as accessible to the public as they are here in New Zealand. The monarchy in New Zealand is a modern, multicultural institution woven into the fabric of this country. In 2021, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 95th birthday. Four coins were issued by NZ Post to commemorate this milestone. Date of issue: May - June 2021 Designer: Nicky Dyer, Wellington, New Zealand Mint: The Commonwealth Mint Worldwide mintage: 1oz silver proof coin: 950 ¼oz gold proof coin: 500 1oz gold proof coin: 95 2oz gold proof coin: 95