Monthly Competition: Design a New Zealand Postage Stamp

A huge thank you to everyone who entered our New Zealand Stamp Design Competition! We were amazed by the creativity, colour and care that went into each and every design. From kiwis and kakapos to dolphins and glowworms, your stamps celebrated Aotearoa’s incredible wildlife in the most imaginative ways. We received over one hundred amazing entries – our biggest competition ever!

Congratulations to our four winners 🏆

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Frankie, age 9, London 

New Zealand fur seal

I chose the New Zealand fur seal because it is an amazing swimmer. Did you know they can dive as deep as 238 metres and for as long as 11 minutes.

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Paloma, age 8, High Wycombe

Fantail (pīwakawaka)

There are many myths about the New Zealand fantail, known by the Maori name pīwakawaka, including that it is the messenger of the gods, bringing death or news of death. However, some say that it is departed loved ones popping by to say hello and I think this is a much nicer story for such a cute bird.

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Kaia, age 8, Whitland

Tuatara

I chose the tuatara because it was the animal most like me. Three facts about a tuatara: A tuatara likes its own space, they are pretty secretive, they don’t trust strangers. If you mess with their stuff they will spin into action.

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Katie, age 11, Sheffield

Kakapo

The kakapo is the world's only flightless parrot. It is also known as the owl parrot due to its nocturnal habitat. Kakapo have a long life span, often living for several decades. This unique bird is native to New Zealand and has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to human activity, with only about 150 individuals remaining today. I think this is very sad.

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More fantastic entries from our young readers

Silvia, age12, Broxbourne

Kakapo

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Thomas, age 12, Kettering

Kea

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Rose, age 8

Takahe

Poo-lympians!
A vegetarian diet of fibrous tussock grasses means that takahē can produce up to nine meters of poo in a single day!

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Nathan, age 10, London

Hooker's sea lion

Hooker’s sea lion is the world’s rarest sea lion and are unique  among pinnipeds  for their ability to travel far inland to forests to birth and protect there young.

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Matilda, age 12, Hexham

Kakapo

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Morgan, age 9, St.Columb Major

Yellow-eyed penguin

I chose the yellow-eyed penguin because I like to draw birds. I enjoyed drawing it a lot. Did you know that yellow-eyed penguins lay two eggs a year in September. I watched the yellow-eyed penguin in Which New Zealand Animal Are You?

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Marla, age 9, Spiral

I couldn't choose just one animal, so I drew 3. Did you know that tuartaras are the last species of their family?

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Elizabeth, age 11, Sheffield

Little blue penguin

I chose this penguin because it's cute and it's the smallest type of penguin.

FUN FACTS!!

• It's got 10,000 feathers which is 3-4 times more than birds can fly.
• Life span: 6 years
• Hight: 30-35 cm (adult)
• Mass:1.5 kg (adult)
• The scientific name: Euclyptula Minor.

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Annalisa, age 10, Broxbourne

Fur seal

I have chosen the New Zealand fur seal because of its long whiskers and adorable eyes. A fun fact about the New Zealand fur seal is that they like to eat squid and penguins.

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Florence, age 12, St Agnes

Whio

I chose a whio because I think they are very cool and as there are less than 3000 left in the wild I feel the need to raise awareness for their conservation.

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Emilia, age 9, Newbold on Stour

Brown kiwi

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Athena, age 10, St Albans

Kiwi

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Aoife, age 10, Liverpool

Hector's dolphin

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Ada, age 11, Manchester

Archey's frog