Over the past two years, NZ Post has developed a new range of gift products celebrating Aotearoa New Zealand’s stunning natural environment, Māori culture and history. The range was inspired by a rich archive of stamp artwork created by some of the country’s best graphic designers and artists. The artworks chosen date back to 1898 and span the twentieth century. They showcase world-leading stamp artwork and represent some of NZ Post’s most iconic designs. The gift range includes prints, lapel pins, tote bags, zip pouches, notebooks and note pads, tea towels, and 3D wall art. 

The pictorial stamps, first issued on 5 April 1898, were an obvious place to start for a new range of gifts. These were the first stamps in the world to showcase the scenery of a country. Prior to this, most Commonwealth stamps featured the British Royal Family. The pictorials depicted images of New Zealand mountains, lakes, a Māori war canoe, and native birds. The now-extinct huia bird was on one stamp and has been included on some gift items. Also included are artworks from the 1935 pictorial stamps. The ever-popular Fantail, Tuatara, and Māori Decoration stamps now have a new lease on life through several items in the gift range.

Butterflies were the inspiration for Enid Hunter’s 1970 stamps. Hunter studied graphic design at the Hull Regional College of Arts and Crafts in England before she moved to New Zealand in 1965. The native New Zealand butterfly series she created were her first New Zealand stamp designs and were submitted in response to a New Zealand Post Office competition. Featuring strong graphic lines and rich colours, Hunter’s illustrated native butterflies are still appreciated today for their simple yet vivid portrayals.

These iconic stamps have now been transformed into a beautiful range of gift products. The tote bag features a magnified version of the Red Admiral butterfly stamp, while other gift designs incorporate repeating patterns and the 1970s colour pallet for a more nostalgic retro look.

A third range of gifts draws inspiration from Mark Cleverley’s 1970s stamp designs. Cleverley had a distinguished design career spanning architecture, graphic design, ceramics, packaging, and postage stamps. He taught at the Wellington School of Design for more than a decade. The works chosen included stamps created for the 1972 Anniversaries stamp issue which included a stamp for the anniversary of NAC National Airways Corporation and the Bay of Islands landing by Marion du Fresne, another stamp released in 1971 focuses on the Hauraki Gulf, and in 1970 a stamp highlighting Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Cleverley’s modernist designs are deceptively simple but provide strong clean graphic lines, rich block colouring and compelling imagery that is modern yet steeped in history.

Jumping forward to 1989, a fourth range focuses on a stamp series highlighting Aotearoa New Zealand’s magnificent native trees. The kauri tree design was chosen to adorn a tote bag, tea towel, notebook, note pad and zip pouch. The stamps, designed and illustrated by Dave Gunson, incorporate a 1980s aesthetic that has a retro aesthetic with a contemporary twist.

The extended product range has been created from new stamp designs released throughout the 2020s. Artwork by Sacha Lees for the Lord of the Rings stamps, Giselle Clarkson’s Native Pollinators, Split Enz and Shane Hansen’s Matariki stamp designs all inspired the creation of prints, greeting cards and other gift products. It’s our way of sharing the wonderful artwork on stamps with a wider community both in New Zealand and around the world.