Famous New Zealanders

Single 45c 'Performing Arts' gummed stamp.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa - Born 6 March 1944.

The stunning voice of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has brought her fame in all major opera houses throughout the world. In addition to her wide operatic repertoire, she regularly includes songs from well-known popular musical shows and Māori music adding to such songs her special gracefulness and majesty. Her rise into prominence began with placings in both the Mobil Song Quest and the Melbourne Sun Aria before gaining a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council grant to study at the London Opera Centre in 1966. She was created a Dame of the Order of the British Empire in 1982.

Single 80c 'Service, Business and Development' gummed stamp.

Charles Upham - Born 21 September 1908, Died 22 November 1994.

Charles Upham won his first Victoria Cross for bravery fighting for his country in Crete in 1941; the second in North Africa for heroism against Rommel's German forces the following year. Captain Upham was captured and finally, owing to his repeated efforts to escape, was transferred to the high security of Colditz Castle where he remained until 1945. After the war, a reluctant hero who disliked publicity, he was happiest in the privacy of his North Canterbury farm.

Single $1.00 'Fine Arts and Literature' gummed stamp.

Barry Crump - Born 15 May 1935, Died 3 July 1996.

A man with more than 20 highly successful books to his name, Barry Crump wrote his first, A Good Keen Man, back in 1960 and has enjoyed the well-earned reputation of being a 'real Kiwi bloke', a man's man, who could tell a great yarn with humour and unique down-to-earth style. He has always been a lover of the outdoors and much of the material in that first book was from his experiences as a pig and deer hunter living life to the full and loving it that way.

Single $1.20 'Science, Medicine and Education' gummed stamp.

Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes - Born 13 January 1924, Died 8 March 2006.

Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes, internationally renowned heart surgeon, pioneered new surgical techniques which have earned him the highest respect from peers and patients alike. He made history by developing techniques to replace defective heart valves, which attracted immense overseas attention and brought many patients to New Zealand. He also found new ways to treat babies born with heart defects. His work put Greenlane Hospital, Auckland, at the forefront of heart surgery. He held the post of Head of the hospital's Heart Surgery Unit for almost a quarter of a century. He was knighted at the age of 47 for his contribution to heart surgery

Single $1.50 'Community Leaders and Social Campaigners' gummed stamp. 

Dame Whina Cooper - Born 9 December 1895, Died 26 March 1994.

Dame Whina Cooper was in her hundredth year when she passed away in 1994. For more than 60 years she had worked tirelessly to create and maintain harmony between New Zealand's two races, always striving to find peaceful solutions to differences of culture and situation. She had immense prestige among her people and was called Whaea O Te Motu (Mother of the Nation). Europeans remember her best for leading 5,000 people on a 1,100km walk to Parliament in 1975 to highlight Māori grievances. She was created a Dame of the Order of the British Empire in 1980 and admitted to the Order of New Zealand in 1991. She is recalled as saying at her investiture - "They did not understand that I would have more power to fight for them and all Māori people."

Single $1.80 'Sport' gummed stamp.

Sir Richard Hadlee - Born 3 July 1951.

High profile, high achieving cricketer, Sir Richard Hadlee was not only a great bowler, but also a distinguished batsman and fielder. When he retired in 1990 he had taken 431 test wickets, made 3,124 test runs and taken numerous catches. He played for Nottinghamshire from 1978 to 1987 and New Zealand from 1973 to 1990. His best test performance was in Brisbane in 1985 when he took 9 Australian second innings wickets for 52 runs. In the 1980's, the golden period of New Zealand cricket, Hadlee was the quick new-ball spearhead of the New Zealand attack and many an opponent was demoralised and promptly dismissed by his relentless talents. He was knighted in 1990.