Mānawatia a Matariki - NZ Post stamps look to the stars ahead of the Māori New Year
To acknowledge Matariki mā Puaka in 2025, the latest stamps from NZ Post are highlighting the importance of protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s dark skies.
One of the world’s most precious natural wonders, the spectacle of a clear night sky has fascinated humans for millennia. The position of stars helped to guide Polynesian navigators across the Pacific to Aotearoa New Zealand, and astronomy is one of the world’s oldest natural sciences.
“We’ve been celebrating Matariki with stamps since 2008 and this year we’re pleased to highlight six star constellations, including Matariki, the Southern Cross / Māhutonga, and Taurus / Te Kōkota, which can all be seen in our skies this winter,” NZ Post’s Programme Manager Lynette Townsend says.
Popular Takapō (Tekapo) based astro-tourism experience, Dark Sky Project features in this year’s collection. Combining science, Māori cultural perspectives, and awe-inspiring celestial views, Dark Sky Project offers internationally sought-after stargazing and astronomy experiences.
“Dark Sky Project plays a part in making sure New Zealanders have access to astronomy, and to the universally appealing hobby of stargazing. We were delighted to learn that it is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. This stamp collection is one way to acknowledge the positive impact astrotourism has had at deepening our understanding of the stars,” she says.
Featuring an image of the Milky Way captured in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, the stamps were developed in partnership with Dark Sky Project General Manager and Kāi Tahu astronomer Victoria Campbell. Campbell was a member of the Matariki Advisory Group charged with the task of providing recommendations to the Government on the establishment of the Matariki Public Holiday.
She says the constellations and star clusters featured on the stamps will all be visible in our pre-dawn skies this winter, with the best views available from Dark Sky Reserves, such as the one at Takapō.
“We’re very proud to share the beauty of our dark skies through this limited stamp collection. The stars we have highlighted are significant to us as descendants of navigators who applied their celestial knowledge to their every day lives.
“We hope collectors will use this opportunity to engage with the names and patterns of the stars in our skies and through that connection be more aware of the importance of good lighting practices, so future generations can enjoy the stars at home like we can in Takapō.”
The stamps can be pre-ordered on the NZ Post Collectables website in advance of the issue date of 19 June 2025. They will also be available to purchase directly from Dark Sky Project in Takapō, and New Zealand’s highest post box located in the Astro Café at the top of Mount John.
Comprised of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin, Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve was the third Dark Sky Reserve to be recognised in the world, and Aotearoa New Zealand’s first. It is also the largest dark sky reserve in the Southern Hemisphere. Thanks to the reserve, the dark skies of the Mackenzie region are mostly free of light pollution, which is created by the use of artificial light at night. Light pollution impairs our ability to see the universe through the naked eye.
Find out more about Dark Sky Project at darkskyproject.co.nz. Formerly known as Earth and Sky, Dark Sky Project is a joint venture between Ngāi Tahu Tourism and co-founders Graeme Murray and Hide Ozawa.
Visit collectables.nzpost.co.nz/darkskyproject to see the stamp collection.