Round Kiwi

Aotearoa New Zealand’s first round kiwi stamps were produced in 1988. Since then, the original stamps have been reprinted in new colours and in 2018 were redesigned for the first time.

Most stamps are rectangular or square shaped. The main reasons for this are practical: a stamp with straight lines is easy to perforate; it gives the best stamp-fit-per-print-sheet rate; and stamps in a sheet are easy to burst out. Other shapes, particularly round stamps, are only produced occasionally, making them special additions to the NZ Post range. It’s therefore fitting for an image of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique national bird, the kiwi, to be the hero of round stamps. This has historically been the case and is a tradition continued with the 2025 Round Kiwi stamps.

Each of the stamps was inspired by NZ Post’s commemorative legal tender kiwi coins minted between 2019 and 2024. In partnership with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, NZ post has produced an annual range of kiwi coins for several years.