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.
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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.
More information
about the stamps:
To acknowledge Matariki,
the Māori New Year, this stamp sheetlet highlights Aotearoa
New Zealand’s dark skies with a stunning image from Aoraki
Mackenzie International Dark Sky
Reserve.
$2.90 Southern
Cross/Māhutonga – The Southern Cross
constellation, a national symbol of Aotearoa New Zealand, is
visible year-round in the southern hemisphere sky. It has
long been used for navigation, helping to locate the South
Celestial Pole when used alongside other stars. Across the
world, cultures have shared stories about the stars; in
Aotearoa, some iwi (tribes) viewed the Southern Cross as the
anchor of a great sky canoe.
$2.90 Taurus/Te
Kōkota – The naming and interpretation of
stars vary across cultures. In Aotearoa, the Hyades open
star cluster—part of the constellation Taurus—and the
adjacent bright orange star Taumata-kuku (Aldebaran) are
known collectively as Te Kōkota.
$2.90
Orion’s belt & sword/ Tautoru & Te
Kakau – Orion was named by the ancient Greeks,
who saw the seven bright stars as a giant. A line of three
stars forms his belt, from which his sword hangs. In
Aotearoa, Orion’s Belt is known as Tautoru and, when
including Te Kakau—another row of stars extending at an
angle -is often referred to as a pot with a
handle.
$2.90 Aries/Pipiri –
Pipiri marks the first month of the maramataka, a
traditional Māori lunisolar calendar, and is associated
with the stars Hamal and Sharatan in the constellation
Aries. Aries is an ancient star group that has historically
been depicted as a sheep or ram by many early cultures. Its
modern name is derived from the Greek and Roman myth of the
Golden Fleece.
$4.00 Winter
Triangle – This asterism—a recognizable
pattern of stars—includes Betelgeuse, Procyon, and Sirius
(Takurua), one of the brightest stars in the sky. Known as
the Winter Triangle in the northern hemisphere, this group
of stars is visible during summer in the southern
hemisphere. Thanks to its bright stars, it’s an excellent
starting point for those new to
stargazing.
$4.70 Matariki –
Matariki is the Māori name for the star cluster also known
as Pleiades, Subaru or the seven sisters. The Māori New
Year is celebrated annually across Aotearoa New Zealand
when, in mid-winter, the Matariki star cluster
rises.
