Fastway Post

Datestamp No.	Franchise Outlet
002	Bricknells Paper Plus, Napier
003	Clive Supermarket, Clive
004	Waipawa Pharmacy, Waipawa
005	Gloucester Books & Stationery, Taradale, Napier
006	McMillan Craig Office Products, Napier
007	Bayliss Bookshop and Stationery, Marewa, Napier
008	Stortford Lodge Bookshop, Hastings
009	Mahora Four Square, Hastings
010	Paul Messerschmidt Amcal Chemist, Hastings
011	Flaxmere Pharmacy, Flaxmere, Hastings
012	McEwens Bookshop, Wairoa
013	Peter Dunkerley Amcal Chemist, Hastings
014	Lamsons Paper Plus, Havelock North, Hastings
015	Grahams Paper Plus, Waipukurau
016	Fastway Post New Zealand Ltd, Napier

Datestamp No. 001 was also held by Fastway Post New Zealand Ltd, Napier

By mid December 1998, there were 60 outlets throughout the North Island, and by July 2003, there were 128 outlets throughout New Zealand.

The stamps were issued in rolls of 100.

Although there was only one design, three different versions of the stamp can be found. One was on gloss paper,
another used course phosphor coating and the third, smooth phosphor coating.

First Day Covers showing datestamp 002 & 016

Shortly after commencement, two of the franchises, Bayliss Bookshop and Gloucester Books and Stationery,
started selling the stamps in privately produced booklets of 10. This was made up of two strips of 5, stapled to a cover.

Front and Back of the Gloucester Books and Stationery booklet.
This is a revised version, the initial booklet didn't have the text relating to Fastway Post on the cover.

A newer franchise, Piako Stationery Supplies of Te Aroha, also produced a booklet.

Not to be outdone, Fastway Post themselves decided to produce a booklet.
 An interim booklet was produced to meet demand, while an "Official" booklet could be prepared.

Interim booklet (stamps were stapled to the cover)

The "Official" booklet had a cover with three panels and a strip of 10 stamps were adhered to the inside cover.

A couple of examples of Fastway Stationery.

On August 17, 2000, Fastway introduced the new across town service at 35c for a standard letter posted
and to be delivered within Napier and Hastings only. For this, a new stamp was issued only in rolls of 100.

On August 21, 2000, a new Kiosk stamp was issued. It was available in rolls of 100 or in a booklet of 10.
The stamps from the roll had an orange coloured floor, whereas the booklet stamps tended to be more of a red colour.

Stamps from the roll. Orange floor.

Booklet stamp. Red floor.

The booklet used the same cover as the previous issue, but this time the stamps were printed as part of the booklet.

A 40c Christmas stamp was issued November 30, 2000. It was only available in rolls of 100.

In December 2000, New Zealand Post increased the postage rate for large envelopes from 80c to 90c, so Fastway issued a stamp to cater for this.

They issued the stamps in a Gummed sheet of 50 and also a self-adhesive sheet of 50. The stamps measured 35mm x 30mm.
The gummed stamps were perforated 13.7 x 13.3, whereas the self-adhesive were perforated 9.5.

A booklet of 10 was also produced. There are two versions, one perforated 5.75 and the other 10 x 9.7.
The booklet stamps measured 30mm x 25mm.

Gummed sheet stamp                                                                     Self-Adhesive sheet stamp

Booklet Stamps

A set of five New Zealand Landscapes was issued June 21, 2001. They were available in rolls of 100, with recurring strips of the five stamps.

The fifth stamp, was incorrectly labeled Marlborough Sounds. That stamp was withdrawn and replaced
when the stamps were re-issued on October 15, 2001 with a stamp depicting Te Mata Peak.

To date, all Fastway Post stamps had been printed by Christchurch printers, Wyatt & Wilson.
It was considered that the printing of the stamps was of a poor quality, so a print was made by Southern Colour Print of Dunedin.
Southern Colour Print re-issued the set of stamps on February 8, 2002.

A booklet featuring the NZ Landscape stamps was issued on March 4, 2002. The stamps were perforated 5.75
and a revised version was issued in July 2002 with the perforations now 10 x 9.

August 23, 2003 commemorated the 20th anniversary of Fastway Couriers. To celebrate, two 40c stamps were produced.

There were 1,000 of each stamp produced. 500 of each were attached to First Day covers and 250 of them were postmarked 23 Aug 2003,
the other 250 were uncancelled. The 500 of each, mint stamps were left for sale.

October 6, 2003 saw the release of International Mail stamps.
There was a single $1.00 Pukeko stamp, three $1.50 stamps, Maori Carving, Sheep and Rotorua
and three $2.00 stamps, Fern, Aotearoa and Queenstown Bungy.
The $1.00 stamp was issued in a self-adhesive sheet of 50.
The $1.50 stamps were on one sheet of 50, se-tenant across the sheet, two Maori Carving, one Sheep and two Rotorua.
The $2.00 stamps were on one sheet of 50, se-tenant across the sheet, two Fern, one Aotearoa and two Queenstown Bungy.

Better images are required.

November 19, 2003 saw the issue of two 40c Christmas stamps.

A Celebrations set of five 40c stamps was issued on November 26, 2003.
They are gummed stamps available in sheets of 25.

The postal rates for a standard letter increased to 45c on April 5, 2004.
The previously issued New Zealand Landscapes set of 5 stamps was re-issued with a new 45c denomination.

Also on April 5, 2004, a $4.50 booklet of Mountain Scenes was issued.
The stamps measure 40mm x 28.5mm.

Commemorating Masterton's 150th Anniversary, two booklets were issued on May 21, 2004.
The first booklet showing the Wairarapa Times-Age Building
and the second showing 10 different scenes, including the Wairarapa Times-Age Building.

On October 15,2004, two booklets of New Zealand Birds were issued.
One contained ten 45c stamps (five pairs of different birds, Tui, Kakariki, Kokako, Korimako and Kea).
The other had ten 90c stamps of the Kereru.
Both booklets were issued in sheetlets of five booklets joined together.

 
First Day Cover displaying all six stamps.

The Mountain Scenes set of 5 stamps was re-issued around December 2004 in a roll of 100.
The stamps measured 30mm x 25mm, different to the predecessor and had no white border.

Early 2006 saw the release of five stamps depicting New Zealand Lakes.

Another release of five 45c and one 90c New Zealand Birds also came out in 2006.

A second set of five New Zealand Lakes came out in 2007.

More New Zealand Birds in 2007, showing a rate increase to 50c.
Also available in $5.00 Booklets of 10.
There were two different printings of the booklets.

A $1.00 Takahe was also issued, possibly in a booklet as well.

Five $1.50 stamps were also issued in 2007. 

The last for 2007 were two 50c stamps.

2008 saw the release of five $1.20 Icon Series stamps, featuring items of Kiwiana.

The New Zealand Lakes from 2007 were re-issued, this time with a white border.

The Birds set was also re-issued with white borders.

As were the five $1.50 stamps.

  Fern stamp image not available 

Two new $1.80 stamps were also issued in 2008.

For 2009 there were still a number of new releases.

Five $1.80 stamps. 

One $1.40 and three $1.60 Sunset Series

A set of five stamps with DLE in Red were issued. With no denomination on the stamp, they were purchased at the current rate,
but could be used at anytime, even if there was a rate change.
Four of the five were available in the booklet below.
The same five stamps were also available without the Red DLE.

Without the Red DLE

2010 had the Kiwi Holiday Series, made up of five $1.90 stamps.
There are two versions, perforated 11 as below, or perforated 6½.

This was followed by the Kiwi Country Series of five stamps.

One set of stamps for 2011, the Adventure Series.

It would appear that the New Zealand Apples stamp was the only issue for 2012.

There were no more, the Fastway Brand became part of the Aramax family.

New Zealand Alternate Postal Services