1962 Covers to Switzerland

   

    While searching for other items for this blog, we can upon these three interesting covers that were sent during 1962, from Berhampore, a suburb of Wellington, to Zurich, Switzerland. They were sent via airmail, each cover clearly displaying a printed 'By Air Mail' label, and red/white/blue edging. They each contained a different variety of postage stamps. If you add the values you will discover the totals differ greatly so it appears that these selections were chosen more for their stamp collecting interest, than exact postal rates.

Kurangaituku - The Bird Woman.

For an index to all our posts on The Maori People.

        As I explore the legends and myths of the New Zealand Maori people one story seems to connect to the next. When Mary was doing her post on the 1958 Anniversaries she came across the stamps issued for the Hawke's Bay Centennial. Among these was a stamp showing the statue Pania of the Reef which led me to do a post telling this story. In the comments below that post, the story of Hinemoa was mentioned.

        Recently I added the love-story of Hinemoa to my growing collection of posts on Maori stories. While researching this story I discovered Hinemoa swum to the Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua. This led me to discover another story connected to this island, Hatupatu and Kurangaituku - The Bird Woman, the subject of this post.   

Kurangaituku - 80c
The giant bird-women who stalked prey in the forest, standing tall as a tree

and spearing birds and lizards with her fingernails.

Stamp from 2000 Spirits and Guardians.

1960 Westland

        Following the example of many other provinces of New Zealand this commemorative set of three stamps was issued to mark the Centenary of Westland. The stamps recognised the first explorers, miners and women of the region.

          The first Europeans to visit the West Coast were Brunner and Heaphy, whose exploration began in 1846.  Until 1856 the only European visitors to the Coast seem to have been sealers from Foveaux Strait and shore whalers operating from the Jackson Bay area.

1980 Anniversaries



 The 1980 Anniversaries Issue consisted of six stamps. Three were celebrating the 125th anniversary of stamps in New Zealand and the rest celebrated three other anniversaries. There was also a miniature sheet issued at the same time, featuring the three Chalon Stamps. The first stamp issue, the Full-faced Queens is also know as Chalon Stamps.

The three stamps commemorating the 125th anniversary of the first New Zealand stamp issue were designed by D A Hatcher, these stamps were also incorporated into a special miniature sheet which he also designed.  The remaining three stamps, designed by R M Conly, commemorated the Centenary of Rotorua and the International Orchid Conference and the World Ploughing Championships which were both held in New Zealand in 1980.

Further down we have included a small collection of flaws and printing errors from these stamps.

2012 - Great Voyages of New Zealand

As a small nation surrounded by water, New Zealand has relied on ships and vessels as a means of transport for as long as it's been inhabited. The 'Great Voyages of New Zealand' stamp issue features five vessels that have played a part in shaping New Zealand.

New Zealand Maori

New Zealand Maori.

         Asami here: - Allan has requested a special index page for posts about or relating to the Maori people of New Zealand. This is a very vast and complex area of study so I've decided to lay the page out in a series of sub-indexes with a table of context at the top.

Index / Contents

                 Maori - Traditional History.

                              Creation Stories.

                              Coming of Maori to Aotearoa (New Zealand.)

                              First Meetings with Europeans.
                              The Treaty of Waitangi.

                 Maori - Heritage.

                              Maori Cultural Heritage.

                              Matariki - Maori New Year.

                              Maori Legends.

                 Famous Maori on Stamps.   (On separate page.)

                              Famous Maori on Stamps.

                              Maori Artists - Artwork on Stamps.
                              Maori Writer/Designers on Stamps.

                       Definitive Stamps with Maori Themes.   (On separate page.)

                 A Complete Index of Maori Themed Stamps.
                                                 (A future project still to be published.)

                The Moriori People.

                              Moriori History & Culture.

The Legend of Hinemoa,

For an index to all our posts on The Maori People.

Rotorua’s famous romance, based on a true story of forbidden love between a high ranking young maiden and Tutanekai - illegitimately born of an illicit affair.  Mokoia Island is historical location of their union and is still cherished and celebrated today.



Hinemoa and Tutanekai beside the pool of warm water Waikimhia, 

now also known as Hinemoa's Pool.  

                    
             40c - Hinemoa.                                          The Original Promotional Image.       

                                             

2009 - A Tiki Tour of New Zealand. No. 1.

        A Tiki Tour - "In other countries they might call it the ‘roundabout way’ to get somewhere. Or the ‘scenic route’. But in New Zealand it’s a ‘Tiki tour’, and it’s the only way to go. It involves getting from A to B via L&P®." Getting off the beaten track, visiting places, seeing things that would normally be overlooked.

        This stamp issue sets out to show the different sights and activities that can be enjoyed in New Zealand. For such a small country there is much to see; from majestic mountains to flat open plains; from a bustle of modern cities to small country towns; from the roar of an ocean beach to the stillness deep in a forest glade. No matter what interests you, New Zealand has something to offer.

        New Zealand is a sporting nation with rugby being the national sport but many other sports are popular too. You can swim in the ocean then a few hours later ski down a mountain. Fishing, sailing, horse riding and mountain climbing are among the activities shown here. Go whale watching or watch an air show of vintage aircraft. Activities are almost endless but when you have finished what better way to end your day than to relax in the natural hot water of springs such as those found at Hamner Springs or many other hot pools found throughout both main islands. Enjoy some of the best wine in the world with a meal of roast lamb or fish, freshly caught from the sea. The choices are limited only by your imagination. 

       While being a young country, New Zealand still has a rich history. There are the Maori myths and legends such as Maui capturing the sun or the tragic love-story of Pania of the Reef. Timber milling, gold mining and breaking in the land for farming, stories of courage and determination remain of those first Europeans. Almost every town has it own little museum telling the stories of the local area.  

2012 - Tiki Tour of New Zealand No. 2

       So come with me and enjoy out Tiki Tour through New Zealand.

2011 - Ross Dependency - Race to the Pole.

 This issue marks the Centenary of the first successful attempt to reach the South Pole. Over the summer season of 1911/12 two men were attempting to be the first to reach the pole.  One was an Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, and the other a British explorer, Robert Scott.  The stamps of this issue, remember and celebrate both men and their teams. 

The miniature sheet titled "The Race to the Pole" including the five stamps of this issue.

Happy Birthday! Penny Black!

             The world's first adhesive postage stamp was introduced 175 years ago, on May 1st 1840, as part of Sir Rowland Hill's postal reforms which paved the way to the modern postal system.
            This was the stamp that started it all so when I saw the date I decided we had to do something about it in this blog. Asami suggested getting the fireworks out but I don't think we need go that far. Just to acknowledge the occasion will be enough.