1975 Anniversaries

         This 1975 Commemorative stamp issue commemorated the anniversaries identified below. The 40th Anniversary of the New Zealand Crippled Children's Society (Inc) and the 50th Anniversary of the Women's Division Federated Farmers of New Zealand Inc (designed by V Jepsen), and International Women's Year and Centenary of the Otago Medical School (designed by Allan Mitchell).

       Four stamps by two designers have given us an issue that stands out among the issues of the 1970s. The stamps have a very simple format too. A large colourful design with a white section down the left side showing each organization's symbol, title and dates of the anniversary being celebrated.

1982 Ross Dependency 25th Anniversary of Scott Base

        By 1982 it was time to replace the 1972 Definitive Issue with a newer issue with more modern designs. A six value set was decided upon featuring views from around the Ross Dependency. What I like about this issue is that, while still being drawn illustrations, they show views of penguins, buildings and actually people doing research. This makes for a much more interesting issue.   
       This Definitive Ross Dependency stamp issue commemorated the 25th anniversary of the opening of Scott Base, near Cape Armitage on Ross Island. By 1982 the base was well established as the centre of New Zealand's scientific research programme on the frozen continent.

1974 Commonwealth Games

         After the Amsterdam Olympic Games in 1928 a Canadian proposal for an 'Empire Games' was put before the representatives of the Empire countries. It was unanimously accepted and eleven countries took part in the first Empire Games in 1930 at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

         It was decided that the games be held every four years.  Later, at Jamaica in 1966, it was agreed that the term 'Empire' should be dropped and the games should in the future be known as the 'British Commonwealth Games'.  In 1974, forty four years after the first games, over thirty countries and approximately 2000 athletes took part in the 10th British Commonwealth Games at Christchurch, New Zealand. 

         The first Paraplegic Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, in 1962.  In 1974 the 4th Paraplegic Games were held in Dunedin, New Zealand.  To commemorate these two sporting events in New Zealand in 1974 five stamps were issued.

1973 Frances Hodgkins Paintings

           Frances Mary Hodgkins (28 April 1869 – 13 May 1947) was a painter chiefly of landscape and still life, and for a short period was a designer of textiles. She was born in New Zealand, but spent most of her working life in Britain. She is considered one of New Zealand's most prestigious and influential painters, although it is the work from her life in Europe, rather than her home country, on which her reputation rests.

           Born in Dunedin in 1869 Frances was encouraged to paint by her father.  She exhibited for the first time in Dunedin and Christchurch in 1890.  That same year she was elected a working member of the Otago Art Society.  Frances attended the Dunedin School of Art, subsequently gaining first class passes. During the period 1890 - 1900 she devoted most of her time to painting, exhibiting regularly. 

          In 1901 Frances left New Zealand to study and work in England and Europe although she returned home on several occasions to exhibit and to visit family.  She eventually settled permanently in England.  Frances Hodgkins died at Herrison House, Dorcester in 1947.  She was essentially an artist in the European tradition, and it is on her later work done in Europe that she is known for.

1972 Ross Dependency Pictorials

During the 1970s & 80s so New Zealand stamps reflected a very stylized, almost cartoon art design. The 1978 Agriculture / Lincoln College and 1981 Government Life Insurance Lighthouses are classic examples of this. A similar design form was used for the 1972 Ross Dependency Pictorial/Definitives.  

This issue replaced the 1967 Ross Dependency Decimal Pictorials as the new definitive set and remained in circulation until the 1982 Ross Dependency 25th Anniversary of Scott Base stamps were issued. Although not a commemorative issue, the stamps were issued on the 60th Anniversary of Scott's Polar Party reaching the South Pole on January 18th, 1912.

1994 Scenic Stamps.

The 1994 Scenic Issue of four stamps features the four seasons with each stamp showing a different scene in a different season. In a country like New Zealand, surrounded by oceans, it is often hard to define exactly when one season changes into another. I've known beautiful sunny weather in June and July which is said to be winter then starting the fire on Christmas Day in the middle of summer.
This is an interesting theme combined with an unusual design format to create what I think is one of the better scenic stamp issues.