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Story: Taniwha

Taniwha stamp

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Taniwha stamp

Issued in 1960, this stamp features a taniwha design based on the cave drawing known as the Ōpihi taniwha. This was drawn on a limestone cave shelter overlooking the Ōpihi River in South Canterbury.

Using this item

New Zealand Post

Reference: 1960 Pictorials stamp issue

by D. F. Kee

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Taniwha – What are taniwha?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/postage-stamp/10859/taniwha-stamp (accessed 23 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 1 March 2009.