Walk into the Brebner Print premises in Napier and you’ll find the hum of high-tech presses, the sharp scent of ink, and a team that knows how to hit a deadline. But look a little deeper, and you’ll discover a business doing much more than running off brochures and business cards. They’re printing postage stamps—millions of them—for countries around the world.

Yes, actual stamps. The kind collectors treasure and countries proudly use to tell their stories. “We’re creating history,” says Ricky Howes, General Manager of Brebner Print. “You go to South Korea or Hong Kong and they’ve got museums dedicated to their stamps. It’s not just print—it’s storytelling. It’s culture.” In a world supposedly going paperless, Brebner Print is doubling down on the physical. And succeeding.

From commercial roots to global reach

Brebner Print has been around for 45 years, a staple of the Hawke’s Bay business community. It was founded in 1978 by Mark Brebner, an offset printer with experience in the UK. After working for a small Napier firm, Mark bought the company and was later joined by typographer Neville Smith in 1980. Together, they laid the groundwork for what would become one of the region’s most enduring and adaptable businesses.

“When I first walked through these doors, we had more than 100 staff across two sites,” says Ricky, who’s marking his 30th year with the company in November. “Now we’re about 40 full-timers, but what we do is far more specialised.” He’s seen the shift from analogue to digital, from mono to multi-colour, from local jobs to global logistics. “It’s changed a hell of a lot,” he admits. “We were ahead of the curve back in the day—one of the first in the region to go digital. But staying relevant means more than upgrading gear. It’s about diversifying.” That’s exactly what Brebner did. They’ve become a key part of Blue Star Group, a privately-owned New Zealand print communications powerhouse with production sites nationwide. But Brebner still operates with a strong local identity, producing around 75% of its output for regional clients and managing niche, high-value work for the broader group. “We’ve carved out a niche doing smaller, bespoke runs—things like boutique packaging, booklets, pull-up banners, even those old-school NCR books. And now, of course, stamps.”

The stamp business: a surprising pivot

The stamp printing operation began in 2022, when Blue Star Group acquired Southern Colour Print of Dunedin, one of only a few ISO14298-certified stamp producers in the world. “When we relocated the operation up here, Matt Tobin, Stamp Production Manager, moved up with the stamp business and provided key training to the Brebner crew in all things stamps. We brought some machinery up like the perforator, but mostly we’ve adapted with our own equipment. We had to lift our game to meet the next-level quality expectations with line screens of 600 LPI, highly technical embellishments such as foiling, embossing, and full security measures. Quality and security are paramount, and Swiss auditors visit annually to assess us,” he adds.

The numbers are eye-watering. Brebner is currently on the fifth delivery of a 22-month job for Taiwan Post—the largest contract of its kind ever handled by a New Zealand firm. Clients span the globe: Singapore, South Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Namibia, and more. In a declining stamp market, Brebner has found growth by outpacing slower, larger competitors in Europe. “We’re faster. We’re nimble. And we’re meticulous,” Ricky says. “Some clients inspect proofs under microscopes, so we have to be exact. A tiny defect, and you can potentially be blacklisted for two years.”

From eye to AI: next-level quality control

If stamp production raised the bar internally, what’s coming next will push it even higher. Currently, every sheet is checked manually for imperfections—a painstaking process. But that’s about to change. “We’ve partnered with a local tech genius, David Kenwright from Reality Check,” Ricky says. “Ex-NASA guy. He’s building a quality control automation system using high-speed scanners and conveyor belts. It’ll sort good, bad and possible sheets in real time.” Still in development, the system is set to go live in September. It’s uncharted territory—even global competitors are yet to crack automated stamp QC at this level. But Brebner is backing it. “There’s definitely risk,” Ricky admits. “But if it works, it’s a game-changer. We can improve efficiency, reduce labour costs, and pitch for even bigger contracts with confidence.”

Not just stamps

While stamps are grabbing headlines, they’re not the only string to Brebner’s bow. The company has long specialised in small-run packaging with full structural design capability, servicing local and national markets. “You give us the product, and we’ll design the box,” says Ricky. “From concept to proof, we’ve got the software and the machinery in-house.” “While our wider Blue Star group handles the larger volume packaging runs,” Ricky says, “if you want short runs, custom shapes, or a boutique feel—we’re your team.” On the back of a finalist placing at the 2024 HB Export Awards, Brebner Print received their best ever results at the 2025 National Pride in Print awards held in July, taking home the prestigious process award for best sheetfed print job in the country along with 10 gold medals and a highly commended award. “This is a testament to how far we have come,” says Ricky.

Sustainability and security: non-negotiables

With clients including government departments and international postal agencies, Brebner has had to build credibility in both environmental and information security. They hold ISO certifications for security printing, IT security (ISO 27001), and environmental management, including the Toitū Diamond level—New Zealand’s highest. “Some businesses still treat security as an afterthought,” says Ricky. “We don’t. And when clients realise our systems are more robust than most banks, it gives us an edge.” They are also FSC and PEFC certified, sourcing paper from sustainably managed forests and aiming to counter the myth that print is inherently bad for the environment. “The reality is, a well-run offset print job is often better for the environment than 100 PDFs printed off a laser printer,” Ricky says. “We just need to tell that story better.”

Culture, challenge and what’s next

So what’s kept Ricky showing up at the same door every day for 30 years? “I guess I thrive on the pressure,” he laughs. “Deadlines, quality expectations, leading an awesome team of talented people—it never gets boring. And with stamps, it’s like we’ve reinvented ourselves again.” The culture is built around that same ‘Make it Happen’ mentality that’s been part of Brebner since day one—practical, solutions-focused and proudly local. Having just installed a fully automated XL75 press in August, Brebner Print maintain their position as one of the largest regional offset printers in the country. Looking ahead, the plan is to expand stamp production, refine their quality control tech, and find new international clients—particularly in untapped Asian markets. “There are only three major players in the world doing this type of stamp work,” Ricky says. “We’re the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. That’s not just good for Brebner, it’s good for Hawke’s Bay.”