NZ Post produces first Islamic art stamp to celebrate Eid al-Fitr
Te Whanganui-a-Tara - NZ Post’s latest stamp release is celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the world’s most popular Muslim festival, which is a way of acknowledging Aotearoa’s diverse communities.
Featuring Arabic calligraphy over the silhouette of a mosque, as well as the Islamic year 1443 AH (Anno Hegirae) the stamps celebrate Eid al-Fitr. The issue is titled Eid Mubarak, meaning Eid Blessings.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is the first of the two official holidays celebrated in the Muslim community around the globe.
They are also the first Islamic art stamps to be issued by NZ Post.
Designed by Arabic calligraphy artists Muhammad Waqas and his wife Sameera Waqas, the bold metallic gold stamps will be released on April 6.
“Such initiatives are great examples of inclusivity and recognition of the minorities amongst us,” Muhammad says.
“We feel very blessed, proud and honoured that we have been part of this historic project. New Zealanders will be able to see the beauty of Islamic art through these stamps”.
Originally from Pakistan, the couple moved to Wellington in December, 2016.
“New Zealand is such an amazing country and Wellington has a great community who will help you with anything,” Muhammad said.
Sameera says the feedback they’ve had from here and around the world has been positive, with many supportive calls from the Muslim community.
The stamps are visually powerful and are a great example of how NZ Post is representing New Zealand’s ethnic diversity.
They not only represent the dozens of nationalities, languages, customs and traditions within the New Zealand Muslim community but also reflect NZ Post’s commitment to acknowledging the diversity of New Zealand’s population.
Lisa was born in Auckland at the start of the 1970s, living in a small campsite community on the North Shore called Browns Bay. She spent a significant part of her life with her grandparents, often hanging out at the beaches. Lisa has many happy memories from those days at Browns Bay beach, where fish were plentiful on the point and the ocean was rich in seaweed. She played in the water for hours, going home totally “sun-kissed.” “An adorable time to grow up,” Lisa tells me.
Lisa enjoyed many sports; she was a keen tennis player and netballer, playing in the top teams for her age right up until the family moved to Wellington. Lisa was fifteen years old, which unfortunately marked the end of her sporting career. Local teams were well established in Wellington, and her attention was drawn elsewhere.