New Christmas 2022 stamps from New Zealand
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.
Date of issue: 5 October 2022
$1.70 Christmas star and kākābeak
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.
$3.00 Christmas candle, toetoe and raupō
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.
$3.80 Pīwakawaka and poroporo
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.
$4.30 Christmas bell and mānuka blooms
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.
$4.50 Kererū and kōwhai
The dove-like New Zealand pigeon carries a kōwhai branch adorned with gold kōwhai flowers, symbolic of peace.
