Synonymous with fun summer activities, a break from work or school, and looking back on the past year, Christmas is celebrated throughout New Zealand. The Christmas stamps for 2022 offer a colourful and distinctively New Zealand aesthetic alongside traditional symbols of the Christian festival.
Issue information
Each year on 25 December families around New Zealand enjoy a day off together to share food, gifts and a range of religious, cultural and personal Christmas traditions. The Christmas stamps for 2022 reflect the unique aspects of a New Zealand Christmas with native flora and fauna and traditional Christmas symbols.
Christmas-red kākābeak flowers, candle-like toetoe and raupō, bauble-like poroporo berries, decorative mānuka flowers and iconic kōwhai blooms adorn soothing stamps with a comfortingly nostalgic colour palette. Among the Christmas symbols you’ll find a star, a candle, a bell, a dove-like kererū and a decorative fantail/pīwakawaka.
Product listing for Christmas 2022
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single stamp |
Single $1.70 'Christmas star and kākābeak' gummed stamp. Christmas-red kākābeak flowers, which hang from the tree’s branches in decorative clusters, surround a shining star. The Christmas story speaks of a bright star that led three wise men to the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem. |
$1.70 |
 |
Single stamp
|
Single $3.00 'Christmas candle, toetoe and raupō' gummed stamp. Many cultural and religious festivals place importance on candles and symbols of light. Here the Christmas candle represents the light of the star of Bethlehem. The candle is surrounded by native toetoe and raupō, both candle-like in appearance.
|
$3.00 |
 |
Single stamp |
Single $3.80 'Pīwakawaka and poroporo' gummed stamp. Bright and festive decorations are an important part of Christmas celebrations. Here a pīwakawaka’s decorative fan tail sits among bright orange, bauble-like poroporo berries and ornamental purple flowers. |
$3.80 |
 |
Single stamp
|
Single $4.30 'Christmas bell and mānuka blooms' gummed stamp. Symbolising joy and harmony, the Christmas bell is connected to the tradition of church bells. The bell is surrounded by mānuka blossoms, which symbolise health, prosperity and nurturing new life. |
$4.30 |
 |
Single stamp |
Single $4.50 'Kererū and kōwhai' gummed stamp. The dove-like New Zealand pigeon carries a kōwhai branch adorned with gold kōwhai flowers, symbolic of peace. |
$4.50 |
 |
First day cover |
First day cover with five gummed stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. |
$17.80 |
 |
Miniature sheet |
Mint, used & cancelled gummed miniature sheet. |
$17.30 |
 |
Miniature sheet first day cover |
First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. |
$17.80 |
 |
Self-adhesive single stamp |
Single $1.70 'Christmas star and kākābeak' self-adhesive stamp. Christmas-red kākābeak flowers, which hang from the tree’s branches in decorative clusters, surround a shining star. The Christmas story speaks of a bright star that led three wise men to the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem. |
$1.70 |
 |
Self-adhesive single stamp |
Single $3.00 'Christmas candle, toetoe and raupō' self-adhesive stamp. Many cultural and religious festivals place importance on candles and symbols of light. Here the Christmas candle represents the light of the star of Bethlehem. The candle is surrounded by native toetoe and raupō, both candle-like in appearance. |
$3.00 |
 |
Self-adhesive single stamp |
Single $3.80 'Pīwakawaka and poroporo' self-adhesive stamp. Bright and festive decorations are an important part of Christmas celebrations. Here a pīwakawaka’s decorative fan tail sits among bright orange, bauble-like poroporo berries and ornamental purple flowers. |
$3.80 |
 |
First day cover |
First day cover with three self-adhesive stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. |
$9.00 |
 |
Booklet |
Booklet of 10 x $1.70 self-adhesive stamps. |
$17.00 |
 |
Booklet |
Booklet of 10 x $3.00 self-adhesive stamps. |
$30.00 |
 |
Booklet |
Booklet of 10 x $3.80 self-adhesive stamps. |
$38.00 |
 |
Greeting Card |
Donna McKenna’s gorgeous designs have been channeled into a set of five Christmas cards. The cards are blank inside and envelopes are included. |
$9.90 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 5 October 2022 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Five |
| Denominations: | $1.70, $3.00, $3.80, $4.30 & $4.50 |
| Stamps, miniature sheet and first day covers designed by: | Donna McKenna, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print Ltd by lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four plus metallic silver |
| Stamp size and format: |
Gummed - 30mm x 40mm (vertical) Self-adhesive - 25mm x 30mm (vertical) |
| Paper type: | Gummed - Tullis Russell Red Phosphor Paper 106gsm. Self Adhesive - Arconvert Securpost MC 90/Cprint100 P11p |
| Miniature sheet size and format: | 160mm x 90mm (horizontal) |
| Number of gummed stamps per sheet: | 20 |
| Perforation gauge: |
Gummed - 14. Self-adhesive -Kiss cut |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 4 October 2023. First day covers remained on sale until 30 November 2022. |
