Definitives Tour.
In 1995 New Zealand started issuing a new series of scenic definitives. This series continues until today with some amazing stamps being released over the years. Take that stamp to the right of the mighty kauri tree Tane Mahuta 'Lord of the Forest'. A stunning photograph with so much detail on such a little stamp. Over a period of time, I intend to post all of these stamps on this blog in a series of pages like this one below.
Tracking modern Definitive issues has become a lot harder as they are no longer issued in larger sets like they once were. So a collector has the choice of trying to group them over a period of a few years or show them in his collection according to date of issue. In presenting groups of stamps in this blog, we have a similar problem.
(You may wish to check out our post on 1985 - 1993 Native Bird Definitives to see how much it took to sort that lot out!)
(You may wish to check out our post on 1985 - 1993 Native Bird Definitives to see how much it took to sort that lot out!)
This post will cover the Scenic Definitives issued over the period 1995 - 1997. There were other definitives issued during that period but we have chosen to present only the scenic ones. The first stamp in this collection appeared in October 1995 and the last one in February 1997. Not a long period I know - a little over 1 year but there were some great stamps.
We have also included the three miniature sheets, issued for stamp exhibitions, that also featured these stamps. There are two other items, a special booklet issue and some adhesive stamps too. I also plan to throw in any other items of interest that I might come across as I prepare this post.
The 1995 - 1996 Definitive Issue.
Issued - 2 October 1995.
This stamp was issued in advance of the other stamps in the set to mark a very unusual event, the reduction of the price of sending a standard letter within New Zealand, from 45c to 40c, on 2nd October 1995. A reduction of any price these days is an event worth celebrating.
40c - Mitre Peak with a border of Ferns.
Issued - 2 October 1995.
As you can see, Mitre Peak is truly one of New Zealand's finest landmarks. Mitre Peak has appeared five times on New Zealand stamps in the past 100 years, not surprising for it is truly one of the country's great landmarks. It rises abruptly to 1695 metres out of the deep black waters of Milford Sound in the heart of Fiordland National Park. The park is a land of ice age-created fiords, mountains, rainforest, waterfalls, lakes and rivers in the south-west corner of the South Island. The stamp shows one scene Mitre Peak is famous for, the reflections in the waters around its base.
(See our collection of Mitre Peak stamps.)
(See our collection of Mitre Peak stamps.)
Issued 27 March 1996.
5c - Mount Aorangi / Mount Cook. 10c - Champagne Pool, Waiotapu.
5c - Mount Cook with a border of Kea Feathers.
Mt Cook or Aorangi (Maori for Cloud Piercer), New Zealand's highest mountain, is the dominant feature of the 70,000 hectare Mt Cook National Park in the alpine region of the South Island. From the south, the massive mountain appears to have a single point but there are actually three peaks protruding from the summit's ridge. The highest peak was 3764 metres until December 1991 when a massive rock fall sheared 10 metres from its height, leaving it at 3754 metres.
10c - Champagne Pool with a border of Sinter Patterns.
Champagne Pool, in the Waiotapu Thermal Reserve off the main highway from Rotorua to Lake Taupo in the central North Island, is well named. It's hot (75 degrees centigrade) green waters fizz with tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide. This, coupled with its circular shape, gives it the appearance of a giant glass of champagne. The pool, 64 metres deep and covering 2000 square metres, is surrounded by a silica band, coloured a rich orange by antimony. Looking down into the waters amazing colours can be seen. It empties into the Artist's Palette, 1.2 hectares of hot and cold pools and silica terraces tinged with all the colours of the rainbow.
20c - Cape Reinga. 30c - Mackenzie Country.
20c - Cape Reinga with a border of Sand Patterns.
In Maori mythology the spirits of the dead left Cape Reinga for their future destination, hence the meaning of the Maori name 'Place of Leaping'. The Cape, standing steeply almost 300 metres above the sea in the area where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, lies at the north-west extremity of the North Island. Off the Cape, to the north, the waters of these two oceans can be seen, meeting and mixing together.
The Cape forms the western end of Spirits Bay. Popular one-day excursions take tourists up Ninety Mile Beach to the Cape. The cape can take on many moods, one minute fine and sunny and the next covered in thick fog. The sand pattern forming the border of the stamp was photographed on Ninety Mile Beach.
30c - MacKenzie Country with a border of Falcon Feathers.
A large pastoral basin in the South Island's inland South Canterbury area named after a legendary Scots-born sheep drover who spelt his name, James McKenzie. In the autumn of 1855 McKenzie was caught near MacKenzie Pass, also named after him, with 1000 stolen sheep. He may not have been responsible for the theft but was jailed. He escaped twice before being paroled after a short time in prison and disappeared. He was never seen again. A monument near the Pass tells his story.
50c - Mount Ngauruhoe.
50c - Mount Ngauruhoe with a border of Red Tussock.
Mount Ngauruhoe, a classic symmetrical cone volcano, lies in Tongariro National Park in the active volcanic zone of the central North Island's high plateau. Unlike its near neighbours, Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro, it is young - formed only 2500 years ago. The mountain stands 2291 metres and has been frequently active in recorded times, periodically spouting steam and gas, sometimes ash and lava. The red tussock forming the border of the stamp was photographed in the Rangipo Desert near Mount Ngauruhoe.
I climbed to the top of this mountain once. It was a steep climb but the view from the top was well worth the effort. On another occasion, we parked on the Desert Road and watched Nagauruhoe's eruption. It was a great sight until a wind change made us make a run for it before we got coated in ash.
60c - Lake Wanaka with a border of Kowhai in Full Bloom.
Surrounded by mountains, Lake Wanaka lies on the east side of the South Island's Southern Alps. It's deep (300 metres), long (45 kilometres) and narrow (6 kilometres at its widest) bed was dug out by glaciers in a past ice age. The magnificent setting makes Wanaka one of the most attractive southern lakes and is a popular holiday and tourist area. The south-east corner of the lake drains into what becomes the Clutha River, one of New Zealand's great waterways, which flows to the east coast south of Dunedin.
70c - Giant Kauri - Tane Mahuta with a border of Kauri Bark.
Tane Mahuta 'Lord of the Forest' is one of the two or three largest kauri trees still standing in New Zealand. It is not the tallest but its girth, almost 14 metres, gives it a timber volume of 244.5 cubic metres, the most of any kauri. It has been growing in the Waipoua Forest in the far north of the North Island for at least 1200 years. Kauris (Agathis australis) dominate the forest with their immense bulk and spread and are amongst the great trees of the world.
Go to visit Tane Mahuta just after dawn. It's a special time then. No one else around so you can be alone, just you and this living tree, thousands of years old.
80c - Doubtful Sound. 90c - Waitomo Caves.
80c - Doubtful Sound with a border of Bull Kelp.
Giant ice age glaciers gouged out Doubtful Sound on the coast of Fiordland National Park. This sound, or fiord, has four major arms and other reaches. Big triangular Secretary Island splits the outer arms, Doubtful Sound itself in the south and Thompson Sound in the north. Waterfalls and heavy forest contribute to this spectacular work of nature. Captain Cook discovered the sound in March 1770 but did not enter because he was doubtful about the wind and his chances of getting out again.
90c - Waitomo Limestone Cave with a border of Greenstone.
Waitomo Caves, south-west of Hamilton in the North Island, are on the itinerary of most overseas visitors to New Zealand. The three caves making up the system, Waitomo, Ruakuri and Aranui, were created by underground streams which over thousands of years dissolved the limestone - the predominant geological base of the area. They left startling galleries and chambers and astonishing stalactites and stalagmites. Thousands of tiny blinking glow worms add a magical touch.
Four Plate Blocks from this Issue.
There are some interesting items worth noting on each of these plate blocks. First to the left to we find the four printers colour checks. These spots show each of the 4 colours used in printing these stamps. Below that, still on the left side is the printer, Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand. In the first column across the bottom, we can see the designer, Red Cactus Design. Under the centre stamp, can be seen a little kiwi. The number of kiwis tells us how many reprints there as been. In this case, for all four values, it is the first print.
10c - Champagne Pool, Waiotapu.
Plate Block with 10 stamps.
20c - Cape Reinga.
Plate Block with 10 stamps.
50c - Mount Ngauruhoe.
Plate Block with 10 stamps.
60c - Lake Wanaka.
Plate Block with 10 stamps.
Southpex '96 Sheetlet
Issued 15 March 1996.
This sheetlet of ten 40c Mitre Peak definitive stamps, with an illustrated border incorporating a takahe (from 1988 $5.00 definitive stamp), was issued to commemorate the National Southpex '96 Stamp Show that was held in Invercargill, New Zealand on 15 - 17 March 1996.
Issued 15 March 1996.
This sheetlet of ten 40c Mitre Peak definitive stamps, with an illustrated border incorporating a takahe (from 1988 $5.00 definitive stamp), was issued to commemorate the National Southpex '96 Stamp Show that was held in Invercargill, New Zealand on 15 - 17 March 1996.
China '96 Scenic Miniature Sheet
Issued 18 May 1996.
To commemorate the China '96 9th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition a special miniature sheet was produced. Designed by Dianne Prosser the sheet incorporated four scenic definitive stamps (10c, 20c, 30c and 50c).
Issued 18 May 1996.
To commemorate the China '96 9th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition a special miniature sheet was produced. Designed by Dianne Prosser the sheet incorporated four scenic definitive stamps (10c, 20c, 30c and 50c).
This sheet complemented the exhibition miniature sheet produced for the Capex '96 World Philatelic Exhibition in Canada in June 1996. When the two sheets are joined together, the background creates a single image of New Zealand's famous range of mountains in the South Island, the Southern Alps.
Capex '96 Scenic Miniature Sheet
Issued 8 June 1996.
To commemorate the Capex '96 World Philatelic Exhibition in Toronto, Canada from 8 June to 16 June 1996, a special miniature sheet was produced. Designed by Dianne Prosser the sheet incorporated four scenic definitive stamps (60c, 70c, 80c and 90c).
Issued 8 June 1996.
To commemorate the Capex '96 World Philatelic Exhibition in Toronto, Canada from 8 June to 16 June 1996, a special miniature sheet was produced. Designed by Dianne Prosser the sheet incorporated four scenic definitive stamps (60c, 70c, 80c and 90c).
This sheet complemented the exhibition miniature sheet produced to commemorate the China '96 stamp exhibition that took place in Beijing from 18 May to 24 May 1996. When the two sheets are joined together, the background creates a single image of New Zealand's famous range of mountains in the South Island, the Southern Alps.
1996 Self-Adhesive Scenic Definitives.
This issue of self-adhesive definitive scenic stamps was released in May 1996 in dispenser boxes containing coils of 100 stamps. The issue consisted of six different stamp designs, all with a 40c denomination, repeated on each coil.
Mount Egmont/Taranaki (Left Stamp).
Majestic Mt Egmont stands alone, rising starkly from the flat land on the central west coast of the North Island. Maori legend has it that the peak was banished to its present location after a quarrel with the big volcanoes to the east in the central North Island. The mountain has a beautiful symmetric cone and reaches 2518 metres. Scientists think it last erupted about 1755AD and because of this, it is considered dormant rather than extinct. Egmont was named in 1770 by explorer James Cook as he sailed past, but the Maori name Taranaki (Barren Mountain) was given equal and official status in 1986. This mountain was also featured in the 2014 Scenic Definitives.
Majestic Mt Egmont stands alone, rising starkly from the flat land on the central west coast of the North Island. Maori legend has it that the peak was banished to its present location after a quarrel with the big volcanoes to the east in the central North Island. The mountain has a beautiful symmetric cone and reaches 2518 metres. Scientists think it last erupted about 1755AD and because of this, it is considered dormant rather than extinct. Egmont was named in 1770 by explorer James Cook as he sailed past, but the Maori name Taranaki (Barren Mountain) was given equal and official status in 1986. This mountain was also featured in the 2014 Scenic Definitives.
Piercy Island, Bay of Islands (Centre Stamp).
Located at the eastern entrance to the Bay of Islands on the north-east coast of the North Island, Piercy Island is noted for one thing. This squib of an island, rocky and barren, has a natural hole right through it at sea level. Of course, it is known to everyone as the "Hole in the Rock". Launches and other small boats can pass through easily when the sea is calm and Piercy Island has become a "must see" on Bay of Islands cruises. The island is another feature on the New Zealand coast named by Captain Cook. He bestowed the name in honour of one of the Lords of the Admiralty. Piercy Island is very close to Cape Brett with its famous lighthouse.
Located at the eastern entrance to the Bay of Islands on the north-east coast of the North Island, Piercy Island is noted for one thing. This squib of an island, rocky and barren, has a natural hole right through it at sea level. Of course, it is known to everyone as the "Hole in the Rock". Launches and other small boats can pass through easily when the sea is calm and Piercy Island has become a "must see" on Bay of Islands cruises. The island is another feature on the New Zealand coast named by Captain Cook. He bestowed the name in honour of one of the Lords of the Admiralty. Piercy Island is very close to Cape Brett with its famous lighthouse.
Tory Channel, Malborough Sounds (Right Stamp).
Tory Channel is familiar to generations of New Zealanders who have crossed the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands. Steamers and ferries heading south from Wellington for the railhead terminal at Picton have always used Tory Channel because the narrow, twisting passage provides a nice shortcut. Generations of passengers have welcomed their arrival in the channel for its waters are always calm - in marked contrast to the often storm-tossed Cook Strait. Tory Channel is part of the complicated network of waterways making up the Marlborough Sounds and was named after the survey ship Tory which navigated its tricky path in 1839. This stamp is famous for some printing errors which can be seen further down this page.
Tory Channel is familiar to generations of New Zealanders who have crossed the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands. Steamers and ferries heading south from Wellington for the railhead terminal at Picton have always used Tory Channel because the narrow, twisting passage provides a nice shortcut. Generations of passengers have welcomed their arrival in the channel for its waters are always calm - in marked contrast to the often storm-tossed Cook Strait. Tory Channel is part of the complicated network of waterways making up the Marlborough Sounds and was named after the survey ship Tory which navigated its tricky path in 1839. This stamp is famous for some printing errors which can be seen further down this page.
Lake Wakatipu (Left Stamp).
At almost 300 square kilometres in area, Lake Wakatipu is the second largest South Island lake; exceeded only by Te Anau. Zig zag in shape, Wakatipu was dug out by glacial action in a past ice age. It is surrounded by mountains and the area is crammed with historical and scenic attractions. Queenstown, the tourist capital of the South Island, nestles on the lakeside where the middle and southern arms join. Tucked away in the left foreground of this stamp is the veteran steamer Earnslaw which has been carrying tourists on the lake for many years. This lake was also the subject of the famous 1898 Lake Wakitipu - wrong spelling error.
At almost 300 square kilometres in area, Lake Wakatipu is the second largest South Island lake; exceeded only by Te Anau. Zig zag in shape, Wakatipu was dug out by glacial action in a past ice age. It is surrounded by mountains and the area is crammed with historical and scenic attractions. Queenstown, the tourist capital of the South Island, nestles on the lakeside where the middle and southern arms join. Tucked away in the left foreground of this stamp is the veteran steamer Earnslaw which has been carrying tourists on the lake for many years. This lake was also the subject of the famous 1898 Lake Wakitipu - wrong spelling error.
Lake Matheson (Centre Stamp).
One of the jewels in the New Zealand tourist crown, Lake Matheson is best known for its marvellous reflected views of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman. On windless days the still waters of this small South Island lake reproduce stunning mirror images of the snow-laden peaks. The scene is so evocative of peace and tranquillity it was chosen as the subject for one of the Peace issue stamps after World War II. See our post on The 1946 Peace Issue.
One of the jewels in the New Zealand tourist crown, Lake Matheson is best known for its marvellous reflected views of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman. On windless days the still waters of this small South Island lake reproduce stunning mirror images of the snow-laden peaks. The scene is so evocative of peace and tranquillity it was chosen as the subject for one of the Peace issue stamps after World War II. See our post on The 1946 Peace Issue.
Fox Glacier (Right Stamp).
This great 14-kilometre long glacier and its nearby companion, Franz Josef Glacier, plunge from the high alpine snow fields in the Southern Alps to their terminal faces only a few hundred metres above sea level. What makes both so popular is that they are so accessible from the main west coast highway. Almost nowhere else in the world can sightseers get face-to-face with a glacier so quickly and easily. Fox and Franz Josef have made spectacular progress toward the sea in the past three years, both growing at an average rate of 50cm a day. In our post, 2014 Scenic Definitives we look at the expansion and contraction of the nearby Franz Josef Glacier as seen through postage stamps. Fox Glacier was named after William Fox, Premier (Prime Minister) of New Zealand on four occasions last century.
This great 14-kilometre long glacier and its nearby companion, Franz Josef Glacier, plunge from the high alpine snow fields in the Southern Alps to their terminal faces only a few hundred metres above sea level. What makes both so popular is that they are so accessible from the main west coast highway. Almost nowhere else in the world can sightseers get face-to-face with a glacier so quickly and easily. Fox and Franz Josef have made spectacular progress toward the sea in the past three years, both growing at an average rate of 50cm a day. In our post, 2014 Scenic Definitives we look at the expansion and contraction of the nearby Franz Josef Glacier as seen through postage stamps. Fox Glacier was named after William Fox, Premier (Prime Minister) of New Zealand on four occasions last century.
1996 Self-Adhesive Errors & Flaws.
40c - Tory Channel, Malborough Sounds
Perf shift has moved stamp image to the left.
Part is missing off the stamp's edge.
The words "Marlborough Sounds" is missing on the right-hand stamp above.
The left-hand stamp is a good example for comparison.
Below are two covers with this same error.
In 1995 New Zealand Post trialled a $5.00 booklet of five definitive 'Forest Ringlet' butterfly stamps. 1991 Butterfly Definitives. The booklet was hugely successful and sold out quickly. It led to a 1996 replacement AirPost Booklet, in a self-adhesive format, designed for long-term use.
$1.00 - Pohutukawa Tree in full bloom.
The AirPost booklet stamp featured a magnificent full-flowering Pohutukawa, commonly known as New Zealand's Christmas tree. The Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) grows naturally on the northern coastlines of Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and East Cape but also does well when planted elsewhere. At full age it develops, in the words of noted botanist J.T. Salmon, into "a massive, often twisted and gnarled" tree. In December and January, the Pohutukawa is covered with brilliant masses of deep crimson to blood-red flowers which are the reason why it's often called New Zealand's Christmas Tree.
The First Day Cover.
The Booklet opened up.
1997 $10 Definitive.
$1.00 - Mount Ruapehu.
$10.00 - Mount Ruapehu with a border of Volcanic Rock.
Mt Ruapehu burst into volcanic activity in September-October 1995 and June 1996. The eruption was small in global terms but was the largest in New Zealand since the 1886 eruption of Tarawera. The aerial photograph featured on the stamp is taken by New Zealand photographer Craig Potton, of Ruapehu in eruption in June 1996.
Mt Ruapehu burst into volcanic activity in September-October 1995 and June 1996. The eruption was small in global terms but was the largest in New Zealand since the 1886 eruption of Tarawera. The aerial photograph featured on the stamp is taken by New Zealand photographer Craig Potton, of Ruapehu in eruption in June 1996.
Technical information:- 40c Definitive Mitre Peak.
Date of Issue:
| 2 October 1995 |
|---|---|
Designer:
| Red Cactus Design, Wellington |
Printer:
| Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand |
Stamp Size:
| 30mm x 35mm |
Sheet Size:
| 100 stamps per sheet |
Paper Type:
| 14 |
Perforation:
| 103gsm red phosphor coated |
Technical information:- Scenic Definitives.
Date of Issue:
| 2 October 1995 |
|---|---|
Designer:
| Red Cactus Design, Wellington, New Zealand; Miniature Sheet Designer: Dianne Prosser, Wellington, New Zealand |
Printers:
| Southern Colour Print, New Zealand; Joh Enschedé, Netherlands ($10 stamp only) |
Stamp Sizes:
| 35mm x 30mm; 40.5mm x 34.8mm ($10); Booklet stamp: 25mm x 30mm; Miniature Sheet Size:180mm x 80mm; Sheetlet Size:100mm x 215mm |
Sheet Sizes:
| 100 stamps per sheet; 50 stamps per sheet ($10); Sheetlets of ten 40c stamps; Miniature Sheets of four stamps; Booklets of ten 80c stamps |
Process:
| Lithography; Foiling ($10 Stamp) |
Perforation Gauge:
| 14; $10: 13.5; Exhibition Sheetlet: 12; Booklets: Die cut perforations |
Paper Type:
| Coated Papers, Harrison and Sons and JAC self-adhesive, red phosphor coated, unwatermarked |
Technical information:- AirPost Definitive.
Date of Issue:
| 7 August 1996 |
|---|---|
Designer:
| Red Cactus Design, Wellington, New Zealand |
Printer:
| Australia Post - Sprintpak, Australia |
Stamp Size:
| 26mm x 37.5mm |
Sheet Size:
| Booklets of five stamps |
Process:
| Lithography |
Perforation Gauge:
| Die cut perforations |
Paper Type:
| JAC self-adhesive, unwatermarked |
Technical information:- Self-Adhesive Scenic Definitive.
Date of Issue:
| 1 May 1996 |
|---|---|
Designer:
| Red Cactus Design, Welllington, New Zealand |
Printers:
| Coil Stamps: Australia Post - Sprintpak, Australia; Booklet and Coil Stamps: Southern Colour Print, New Zealand |
Stamp Size:
| 30mm x 25mm |
Sheet Size:
| Coils of 100 stamps or booklets of 10 stamps - four stamps appear twice in each booklet |
Process:
| Lithography |
Perforation Gauge:
| Die cut perforations (two varieties - one from each printer) |
Paper Type:
| Jac Australia phosphor tagged self-adhesive |
Technical information:- $10 Definitive.
Date of Issue:
| 12 February 1997 |
|---|---|
Designer:
| Red Cactus Design, Wellington, New Zealand |
Printer:
| Joh Enschedé, Netherlands |
Stamp Size:
| 40.5mm x 34.8mm |
Sheet Size:
| 50 stamps per sheet |
Perforation:
| 14 |
Paper Type:
| 103gsm red phosphor coated |
Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their web site and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/
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