New Zealand Post's Year of the Rabbit Stamps

Join in the New Year celebrations with the third in New Zealand Post's Chinese lunar stamp series. The Year of the Rabbit issue features a vibrant range of stamp products that pay tribute to the co-existence of the Chinese and New Zealand cultures.

60c – Year of the Rabbit
Through one of the oldest styles of calligraphy, the 60c stamp features a Chinese character that reflects the awareness and alertness of the rabbit. Lunar celebrations have become more and more popular in recent years with festivities occurring all over New Zealand.

$1.20 – Paper-cut Rabbit
The distinctive art of Chinese papercutting dates back to the 6th century when women pasted gold and silver foil cuttings onto their hair at temples. Today, paper cutting is a pastime enjoyed by many young Kiwi children. A paper-cut rabbit appears on the $1.20 stamp conveying liveliness and peace.

$1.90 – Painted Rabbit
The Chinese meticulous painting technique is characterised by highly detailed brushstrokes. It is often vibrant in colour and depicts narrative subjects. The $1.90 stamp uses this technique to portray the well known Chinese story in which the rabbit jumps down from the moon (where the essence of the rabbit is said to have originated).

$2.40 – New Zealand Icon
Kites are an important part of the Chinese culture and appear at Chinese festivals around the world. The first Chinese kites were made using silk and bamboo more than 2000 years ago. The $2.40 stamp shows a traditional Chinese kite being flown above the Christchurch Cathedral in New Zealand.