Although a new commemorative set had been planned, by the time it was
announced that decimal currency stamps would be offered for sale on the
10th of July 1967, there was insufficient time to prepare a new issue and
it was decided that the
1960 Pictorials
stamps would be reissued with equivalent decimal values.
A number of
changes and new values were added after the initial 18 stamps were issued
and before the stamps were replaced by the
1970 Definitives / Pictorials.
These stamps are listed separately under the
1968 New Values And
Exports.
The ½c stamp features Manuka (from Maori
'manuka') (Leptospermum scoparium) - a shrub or small tree native
to New Zealand and southeast Australia. It is found throughout New Zealand
but is particularly common on the drier east coasts of the North Island and
the South Island.
The 1 cent stamp features Karaka (Corynocarpus
laevigatus) - an evergreen tree with large glossy leaves endemic to New
Zealand, where it is widespread often forming a major component of coastal
forest. Sometimes Karaka occurs inland, usually the result of Maori
plantings near former village sites.
The 2 cent stamp features the
Kakabeak (Kawhai ngutukaka in Maori) - a woody legume shrub native to
the North Island, with striking clusters of red flowers resembling the beak
of the Kaka, a New Zealand parrot. The species is endangered in the wild,
with only 153 trees found in a 2005 survey. Although widely grown as a
garden plant, the cultivated lines are descended from only a few plants and
are not genetically diverse.
The 2½ cent stamp features the
Kowhai (Sophora microphylla) - a small woody native tree that grows
throughout the country and are a common feature in New Zealand gardens.
They have horn-shaped yellow flowers, which appear in early spring. Their
nectar is a favourite food for Tui, Bellbird and Kereru (New Zealand Wood
Pigeon).
The 3 cent stamp features Puarangi (Hibiscus trionum) - the
smaller of the two New Zealand hibiscus. The plant grows to a height of
20-50 cm, and has yellow flowers with a purple centre.
The 4 cent
stamp features the Mountain Daisy (matua-tikumu). Tikumu are large-leaved
mountain daisies in the genus Celmisia that are widespread and abundant in
New Zealand mountain grasslands.
The 5 cent stamp features Pikiarero
(Clematis paniculata) which is a common flowering climber in most lowland
forest areas throughout New Zealand.
The 6 cent stamp features
Koromiko (Hebe salicifolia) - a native shrub which was used by Maori for
medicinal purposes.
The 7 cent stamp features the flower of the
Rata. The Northern rata (Metrosideros robusta), is a huge forest tree
which grows up to 25 meters tall. It usually begins as an epiphyte high in
the branches of a mature forest tree. Over centuries the young tree sends
descending and girdling roots down and around the trunk of its host,
eventually fusing to form a massive and frequently hollow pseudotrunk. In
disturbed ground, or where there are gaps in the forest cover, Northern
rata will grow on the ground with a normal but short trunk. Southern rata
(Metrosideros umbellata) grows up to 15 meters tall with a trunk up to 1
meter in diameter. It produces masses of red flowers in summer. Unlike its
Northern relative, this species rarely grows as an epiphyte. This stamp was
replaced in 1969 by the Fishing Industry stamp from the
1968 New Values And
Exports.

The 8 cent stamp features
the New Zealand Flag in true colours and was designed by the Post Office
Publicity Department. This stamp was replaced in 1969 by the Fruit Industry
stamp from the
1968 New Values And
Exports.
The 10 cent stamp shows a Kauri log being milled. The
Kauri tree is very slow growing and was greatly prized for it's
straight grain. Unfortunately, there are very few left standing now. Recent
governments have focused on the preservation of native forests. This stamp
was replaced in 1968 by the new export design in the
1968 New Values And Exports
issue.
The 15 cent stamp features a pounamu (greenstone) Hei-tiki
which is worn around the neck. They are often incorrectly referred to as
tiki, a term that actually refers to large human figures carved in wood,
and, also, the small wooden carvings used to mark sacred places. New
Zealand greenstone consists of either nephrite (a type of jade, in Maori:
pounamu) or bowenite (Maori: tangiwai). Pounamu is esteemed highly by Maori
for its beauty, toughness and great hardness. This stamp was coloured green
and the design modified in the
1968
New Values And Exports issue.

The 20 cent stamp
features a drawing of a Taniwha from a limestone cave shelter overlooking
the Opihi River in South Canterbury. In Maori mythology, taniwha are beings
that live in deep pools in rivers, dark caves, or in the sea, especially in
places with dangerous currents or deceptive breakers. The taniwha has
analogues that also appear in other Polynesian cosmologies. This stamp was
replaced in 1969 by the Meat Industry stamp from the
1968 New Values And
Exports.
The 25 cent stamp features commercial butter
production. This stamp was replaced with a more modern design in the
1968 New Values And
Exports.
The 30 cent stamp features Tongariro National Park and
the Chateau. Tongariro National Park, located in the central North Island,
is the oldest national park in New Zealand and was the fourth National Park
established in the world. The active volcanic mountains Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe,
and Tongariro are located in the centre of the park. There are a number of
MÄori religious sites within the park, such as the grave of Te Heuheu
Herekeikei and the summits of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu are tapu
(sacred). The Chateau (now called Bayview Chateau Tongariro) was completed
in 1929 and despite extensive refurbishment still retains much of the style
of the pre-Depression era.

The 50 cent stamp
features the Sutherland Falls. Located in Fiordland National Park near
Milford Sound , the Sutherland Falls drop 580 meters from Lake Quill in
three jumps: 248 metres, 229 metres and 103 metres.
The $1 stamp
features Tasman Glacier, the largest of several glaciers which flow south
and east towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps in the South
Island. The glacier has been in retreat for many years and it is predicted
to disappear completely within the next 10-19 years.
The $2 stamp
features the Pohutu Geyser. Whakarewarewa (a geothermal area within Rotorua
city) has around 500 pools and 65 geyser vents. Seven geysers are currently
active. The most famous, Pohutu Geyser, meaning big splash or explosion,
can erupt up to 30 meters usually every hour. A full colour version of this
stamp was issued in 1968 as part of the
1968 New Values And Exports.