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Counterpart, Denoting, Fine Paid, Mortgagee's Indemnity and Not Liable stamps

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New Zealand fiscal and postage stamps were overprinted for various revenue purposes. Some are given below. Counterpart Counterpart stamps were attached to duplicate (i.e. counterpart) documents provided that the full stamp duty had been paid on the original. The counterpart fee was 2s 6d. The first issue was in 1870 and the design was Die I of the 1867 Revenue issue. The stamp on the left is Die II and was issued in 1880. In 1887, stamps were issued in the design of the revenue stamps of 1880, but with the word Counterpart in rather small letters above the value as in the example on the below. In 1916 the fee was increased to 3s 0d and ordinary revenue stamps were overprinted diagonally in black although special printings were made as the colour was always yellow. It exists both perf 14 and perf 14½x14. In 1927, the George V 3s 0d Admiral stamp was printed on Cowan paper, perf 14, in orange yellow and overprin
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2010 Matariki - Maori Kites.

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Matariki - Manu Tukutuku (Traditional Maori Kites)
       In this post, we feature another of the lesser known crafts of Maori, the making of Maori kites. This issue included only have four values, a miniature sheet and the usual two First Day Covers. Kites were made and flown by both Maori adults and children. As is shown in the stamps below they were made out of many materials and came in a variety of styles or shapes.


50c – Manu Aute
Maori made many of their kites in the shape of birds (manu), reflecting their belief that this was how a person’s soul or spirit was made manifest. ‘Manu aute’ was one of the largest birdlike kites, and the one featured on our 50 cent stamp is the oldest of all surviving specimens.


$1.00 – Manu Patiki
New Zealand’s indigenous plants and birds provided Maori with ample materials for making manu tukutuku – from the leaves and bark of aute (paper mulberry), raupo (native bulrush), manuka (tea tree) and kareao (supplejack) to the feathers of pigeons, hawks and other birds.


$1.80 – Manu Taratahi
Only four known specimens of manu taratahi have survived to the present day – one is located at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, two (including the one on the stamp) at the Auckland Museum and one in Honolulu. Named after the single projecting plume at its upper end (taratahi means ‘end point’), this 700-millimetre-wide triangular kite would have been a spectacular sight for young and old.


$2.30 – Upoko Tangata
Maori children would have delighted in the upoko tangata (named after the plant from which its covering was made). Smaller than most other kites and essentially rectangular in shape, it featured two short, wing-like extensions that reduced instability in flight – so it was probably designed especially for the younger generation. The kites depicted on this stamp and on the $1.00 stamp were designed by Veranoa Hetet – applying contemporary materials to traditional designs.


2010 Matariki - Maori Kites Miniature Sheet.

2010 Matariki - Maori Kites First Day Cover.

Technical information

Date of Issue: 
9 June 2010.
Number of stamps:
Four gummed stamps.
Denominations:
50c, $1.00, $1.80, $2.30.
Stamps and first day cover designed by:
Len Hetet, Whakatane, New Zealand.
Printer and process:
Southern Colour Print Ltd by offset lithography.
Number of colours:
Four process colours.
Stamp size and format:
30mm x 40mm (two vertical, two horizontal).
Paper type:
Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper.
Number of stamps per sheet:
25 stamps
Perforation gauge:
14
Special blocks:
Plate/imprint blocks may be obtained by purchasing at five stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks are available in both A and B formats.
Period of sale:
Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, these stamps will remain on sale until close of business 8 June 2011.


Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of Stamps NZ
You can visit their website and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/

Some Information or images for this post came from.
New Zealand Post (Stamps)

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