1999 APEC New Zealand

What can you do when an issue only includes one stamp and a First Day Cover? 
The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) is an opportunity for economies in the region to work together to improve stability, security and prosperity for their respective peoples.

40c - Real Colours of New Zealand. (Mint & New).

1998 Performing Arts

The Performing Arts Stamp Issue.

This post was a hard one for us as none of us knows anything about the subjects behind these stamps. Since we have almost covered every stamp issue of New Zealand this one had to be included as well. We've decided to rely on information from the NZ Post website. 

1997 Cartoonists

New Zealand Post commissioned some of this country's best-known cartoonists to each a design a stamp based around the theme of 'Kiwis taking on the world". The theme was deliberately broad, designed to give each cartoonist maximum reign. It could be a tribute to the Kiwi psyche, Kiwiana, the pastimes New Zealanders enjoy, the famous Kiwi ingenuity or simply a celebration of ways in which New Zealanders have made their mark on the world, how each cartoonist interpreted the statement was up to them.

The works that followed were predictably unpredictable, as individual and diverse in their interpretation of the theme as the people themselves. After much deliberation, four cartoons were finally chosen for the set of stamps. The result was a stamp issue in which every person in New Zealand can see a little of themselves and their fellow Kiwis.

2018 Royal Visit.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have visited New Zealand for the first time together, as part of their Pacific tour. This commemorative set of stamps captures some memorable moments from their time in Aotearoa.
2018 Royal Wedding.

NZ Post followed the same format they have used on other recent issues where the six stamps are included in a miniature sheet. While it makes for a very attractive presentation as can be seen above, there are no captions for the stamps once they have been removed from the sheet. 

1999 New Zealand Art - Doris Lusk

Doris Lusk is one of a small group of important New Zealand painters who emerged during the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. Throughout a highly productive painting career that spanned five decades, Lusk explored both landscape painting and portraiture.

The four stamps covering 1948 - 1982.

1999 Art Deco Buildings

        One architectural style dominated construction in the 1930s - Art Deco. Popular between 1925 and 1950, the style symbolised the early 20th century's fascination with speed, power, technology and progress. Art Deco architecture is known for its simplest design, clean shapes, apparent flat roof, often with a streamlined appearance. The material of choice was usually ferroconcrete or steel reinforced concrete. A building of this style stands out from those around it.
        The rise of Art Deco in New Zealand was in part brought about by the disastrous Napier earthquake of 1931, which reduced most of the town to rubble. Rebuilt, literally from the ground up, Napier became the home of some of the most beautiful and famous Art Deco buildings in the Southern Hemisphere. The town's reputation is now so well established that in February 1999, Napier hosted the Fifth World Congress on Art Deco.
        Art Deco style reaches well beyond Napier, of course. Classic and diverse examples of Art Deco architecture can be found all over New Zealand, four are shown in this stamp issue.

1999 Victoria University Centenary

        In 1999, Victoria University proudly celebrated 100 years of scholarship and success. New Zealand Post issued a special stamp to commemorate the centennial celebrations. The 100th birthday celebrations were a year-long affair, bound together by the theme of ‘Changing Lives’, and culminating in the official centennial week. 
        The entire occasion was a unique opportunity to showcase the University’s academic achievements, past and present, and to publicise the many successes of graduates, scholars and staff. Activities included garden parties, conferences and reunions as well as major musical, sporting and artistic events.

40c - Hunter Building, Victoria University.

This 40c stamp depicted the Hunter building, a neo-gothic building officially opened in 1906 and situated on the main campus.

1998 Memorial Statues - Joint Issue with Turkey

The Gallipoli Campaign.
          On 25 April 1915, British, French, Australian and New Zealand forces launched a major sea and land offensive at the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Canakkale province of Turkey. The aim was to open up a new theatre of war as an alternative to the stalemate in France, relieve pressure on Russian forces by the Turks in the Caucasus and provide a direct link with Russia through the Black Sea by gaining control of Istanbul, the Dardanelles and Bosporus Straits.
          However, the Allied commanders who planned the offensive, First Munitions Minister David Lloyd George, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, General Kitchener and Admiral Cardin, dramatically underestimated the resolve of the Turks. Dug into the hills overlooking the beachheads, the defenders put up stiff resistance, inspired by the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (later, founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President).
          The Gallipoli campaign lasted 9 months and involved more than a million men. By the time it was officially abandoned on 8 January 1916, both sides had suffered horrendous casualties. New Zealand and Australian troops particularly had taken a real pounding having been landed on the wrong beach surrounded by steep hills, an almost impossible situation. Over 33,000 allied and 86,000 Turkish troops died in the campaign. 
          New Zealand and Turkey have since created a relationship of goodwill and, each year many New Zealanders travel to Turkey to remember those who died on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

1997 Fly Fishing.

Brown Trout.

Once we took an overseas visitor trout fishing in a stream near Rotorua. We tried a couple of places and didn't have much luck. My friend decided to teach our visitor how to fly fish and was showing him how to caste and draw the fly back across the water's surface. His second cast he got one. Can you believe it? All the luck! Well, in the excitement, he slipped on some rocks and almost ended up in the water with the trout much to the amusement of us sitting watching. But eventually, the two of them managed to save our visitor, the rod and his trout. So that evening we had a large Brown Trout, wrapped in tin foil and cooked on the barbeque. Lovely!

1997 Creepy Crawlies

New Zealand is home to a wide range of creatures that creep, crawl, slither and fly. In this issue, New Zealand Post issued 10 self-adhesive stamps in a booklet format, featuring ten of these Creepy Crawlies.

The species depicted in the Creepy Crawlies stamp issue may not be the most obviously endearing of New Zealand's many and varied forms of wildlife. Your instinct, should you come across one of them in your home or garden, maybe to crush them underfoot. Stop yourself! Each and every one of these species plays a vital role in the ecosystem it lives in, each is a part of New Zealand's extraordinarily rich biological diversity. Many of them, including the giant wētā, are threatened by introduced predators. This stamp issue was one way to acknowledge the importance of these species. It reminded us that Creepy Crawlies are part of our unique web of life here in New Zealand and that they deserve to be celebrated in the same way that the Hector's dolphin and the tuatara are in our own small, but special, corner of the world.

1996 Extinct New Zealand Native Birds

When New Zealand broke away from the great southern supercontinent Gondwanaland some 80 million years ago, birds were abundant. But snakes and land mammals, apart from bats, were absent. It was paradise for the original birds and others that flew or floated here later.

        The same qualities that have made many New Zealand birds distinct from others around the world have also helped to make them extinct. Flightlessness and bulk, along with tens of thousands of years living in a predator-free environment, left many bird species vulnerable when they began sharing the islands with humans and introduced predators.

1998 Underwater World

        The New Zealand coastline is around 11,000 kilometres in total. It is surrounded by some of the richest and cleanest waters on the planet, and a diverse underwater world that has earned New Zealand an international reputation.
        The cornerstone for such a rich sea life is plankton. Our seas teem with these minute plants and animals, so there is plenty of food for the wide range of migratory and local fish that live in the mix of cool and warm currents that reach our shores.

These special stamps featured some of the creatures from New Zealand's diverse underwater world.

2018 Ross Dependency - Aircraft.

        Throughout New Zealand’s Antarctic presence, aircraft have provided transport both to and across the icy continent. Land and sea-based alternatives are highly time consuming or unsafe. Much of Antarctica’s surface is covered by crevassed ice and coastal areas by seasonal sea ice.
        The basic principles of Antarctic aircraft operations haven’t changed much in their 60-year history. First is the connection between New Zealand and Antarctica and second is the support of operations within Antarctica. 
        Transport from New Zealand is provided by the RNZAF (New Zealand Air Force) using the Lockheed C130 Hercules and more recently the Boeing 757. USA aircraft also provide assistance in this connection with both the USA and NZ aircraft flying out of Christchurch.        
        Science teams based in Antarctica rely on the collective capability of the aircraft type and their crews to reach areas not easily accessible by other modes of transport. Whilst technological advances assist in navigation, aircraft reliability and weather forecasting, Antarctica remains a demanding and unpredictable environment in which to operate. Without aircraft for transport, the important scientific research localities of Antarctica would be practically inaccessible.

1996 Emergency Rescue Services

New Zealand’s rescue services provide the country with an important safety net, including well-trained people who are dedicated to the task of rescuing others. Danger comes in many forms. Fire, flood, earthquake, cyclone and far too often human error, all pose a threat to people’s safety. There are eight New Zealand rescue organisations featured on the new stamp issue - they all have one thing in common, saving lives. 

2018 Christmas.

The five gummed stamps on a FDC.
The Christmas 2018 stamps go back to the roots of this annual celebration – the Nativity scene. The enchanting and enduring Nativity story encapsulates the meaning of Christmas for many.

1999 Native Tree Flowers

There are more than 250,000 species of flowering plants in the world. New Zealand has just a tiny fraction of that number - a little over 2,200 – 600 of which grow in our native forests. Once considered dull and lacking in colour, our flowering trees are now enjoying a strong upsurge in interest. More and more New Zealanders are coming to realise that we are indeed blessed with some of the most outstanding native tree flowers in the world.

1996 Race Horses.

$1.80 'Bonecrusher' (used).

The “Sport of Kings” is a well-recognised feature of New Zealand life. The big meetings attract huge crowds and generate much excitement with harness racing also making a big impact along with the more established gallops. The horse racing industry that employs tens of thousands of people and New Zealand-bred yearlings attract buyers from around the world and bring in millions of dollars in export earnings annually. Six of the country's more recent (1996) crowd-pleasers were featured in this special Racehorses stamp issue. 

2018 - Macao 2018 Exhibition.

This was the header photo for this issue on the NZ Post website.

It shows both miniature sheets and the cute little kiwi too.

The Macao stamp exhibition is the first great international philatelic event in Asia organised by the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. It took place at The Venetian Macao - Conference & Exhibition Centre from 21 to 24 September 2018.

From 1977 to 2017, a total of 34 exhibitions have been held in different parts of Asia - Macao 2018 is the 35th Asian International Stamp Exhibition.

New Zealand Post has created unique 2018 Round Kiwi and Predator Free 2050 miniature sheets and miniature sheet first day covers for this event.

2018 Armistice 1918 - 2018.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent along the Western Front. The First World War had effectively ended. To commemorate this important centenary and honour those who served, a series of official stamps and legal tender commemorative coins have been issued.

1996 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) 50th Anniversary

         Before the National Orchestra, several cities had amateur orchestras but there had been only two previous professional symphony orchestras, both of which had hoped to become national orchestras. 

1949 3d HMS Vanguard.

Here she is - 1949 3d HMS Vanguard.
Scroll down this page to see her and her six sisters, the only seven known examples.

1996 Coastal Wildlife

New Zealand's coastline is one of the longest in the world in proportion to the landmass it encompasses. Birds and mammals are able to take advantage of a rich plant life along this coastline and coastal waters which are rich in marine food. The abundant wildlife found along the coast is reflected in this stamp issue which features different aquatic birds and marine mammals.

Se-tenant Block of six stamps.
The six stamps in this issue were also released in a block of six format - incorporating two selvedges, at the top right and bottom left, to 'square-off' each block. The one in the top right corner completed the white heron illustration on the $1.00 stamp. The other, bottom left, featured Hector's dolphin.
Lower down this page you will find two examples of this block formed into a miniature sheet for sale at two international stamp exhibitions that NZ Post attended.

Suffrage - A Thematic Collection.

Feedback from the other writers is that this should be on its own page with links to all the other Suffrage issues and stamps. I have decided to quickly do this before everyone gets used to it being with the 2018 Suffrage issue.

Woman's Suffrage in Stamps.
(A small thematic collection.)

Katherine Sheppard / First Country with Women's Suffrage.
1990 Heritage Set 5 - The Achievers.

2018 Suffrage 125 Years Whakatu Wahine.

          When I was given this post I was a bit confused with the title. I knew "Suffrage 125 Years" is the celebration of an important social development in New Zealand. But then the second part "Whakatu Wahine." Was this a Maori themed issue? In that case, why wasn't Allan doing it? I was given some links to other pages in this blog, some images that had been uploaded to our image library and the information from the NZ Post website. Finally, he said, "Go for it Asami - show me what you can do." 

NZ Suffrage on Stamps - A Thematic Collection. 

First, let's have a look at that title.
The title: - English "Suffrage" - To petition or strive for - eg the right for women to vote in New Zealand's general elections.
"125 Years" - 1898 when women were given the right to vote.
Maori "Whakatu" - To stand erect, to establish, election or establishment.
"Wahine" - Woman or women.

These stamps were issued in Se-tenant Sets where the two stamps join together to show the full bloom of the white camellia, a symbol of the women's suffrage movement.

2018 Thinking Outside the Square.

         When it comes to ingenuity and thinking outside the square, Kiwis win hands down. In fact, we’re world-famous for it! Backyard inventors, dreaming up widgets and gadgets, and all manner of things made from ‘number 8 wire’. Stuff that people didn’t know they needed until they saw or used it. That’s what sets us apart from the rest of the world. Here are just a few of the cool creations New Zealanders have come up with.

1996 Seashore Rock Pool Booklet

Rockpools are an integral part of the New Zealand Seashore, this stamp booklet issue depicts this unique environment. When joined together, the stamps formed a continuous picture across all ten stamps of the booklet.

The seashore rock pool is a unique environment in which not all sea creatures can survive. At high tide, it is completely submerged under water, sometimes covered by up to a meter. As the tide goes out, the rock pool is swept with the waves of the falling tide before becoming completely isolated from the ocean. It is at this point that the water left in the pool can get heated by the hot summer sun, sometimes almost drying up the pool. Then in comes the ocean again, a period being swept by the waves before the rock pool is completely submerged again. A tough environment, while many can't survive, many others, as featured in this issue, can survive and thrive. 

View of a seashore rock pool with some marine creatures found in such pools.

1996 Atlanta Olympic Games

Five stamps and the miniature sheet.

1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

In July 1996, the Centennial Olympic games were held in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. Five sports in which New Zealand was represented were featured on the stamp issue. Each of the five stamps, designed by Stephen Fuller, has a border in the colour of one of the five rings which make up the universally known Olympic logo. Blue, black and red in the top row with yellow and green on the row below.
New Zealand was ranked 26th at these Games with 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze, making a total of 6 medals.
Our Olympic & Commonwealth Games Stamp Collection.

1999 Super Twelve Rugby

 1999 Rugby Super 12.

           Each season, five New Zealand teams – the Auckland Blues, the Hamilton Chiefs, the Wellington Hurricanes, the Canterbury Crusaders and the Otago Highlanders thrill huge live crowds and television audiences alike as they jostle for points and placings against each other and teams from Australia and South Africa in the world’s first totally professional, inter-provincial rugby championship.

          To mark the 1999 Super 12 Rugby season New Zealand issued this interesting set of postage stamps. The stamps were issued in five team stamp self-adhesive booklets each containing 10 stamps of two different designs and in a sheetlet of ten (gummed) stamps showing all ten designs from the booklets.

          Note that much of the text for this post was written in 2013 and added to our Rugby on New Zealand Stamps collection. Since then, more items have been found so we decided to give this issue its own page.

See our Rugby on New Zealand Stamps collection.

1998 New Zealand Art - Peter McIntyre

        

        This tribute was the second in the New Zealand Art series and followed on from the inaugural issue in 1997 that paid tribute to the genius and striking originality of Colin McCahon.

        This issue featured four works from throughout Peter McIntyre’s long and illustrious career. Peter McIntyre (1910-1995) was the best known New Zealand artist through the middle decades of the 20th century. 

1996 MMP Elections

This special 40c stamp was released to commemorate New Zealand's first Mixed Member Proportional representation election that occurred in 1996. Part of the purpose of this issue was to promote the election and generate public interest.

40c - Beehive Ballot Box.

The stamp was a simple design, showing a cartoon view of what has become the symbol of New Zealand's government, Wellington's 'Beehive'. Also featured was the 'two ticks' logo signifying that, under MMP, each voter has two votes.

For more on this building, see our thematic collect - Parliament Buildings.

2006 Scenic - Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is used throughout New Zealand. Hydro systems, New Zealand's largest renewable energy source, generate around 60 - 70 per cent of the country's electricity and is available on an ongoing basis. New Zealand's unique geographic characteristics allow a number of renewable energy sources to be utilised - including the five sources shown on these stamps, hydro, geothermal, wind, biogas and solar.

The ideal promoted by this stamp issue is to have New Zealand totally free from burning coal of gas to generate electricity for our energy needs. 

2006 Gold Rush

        In the middle and later years of the 19th century, miners in their thousands travelled to New Zealand from all over the world, drawn by excited reports of gold discovered and dreams of riches beyond their imaginations. Their arrival and the results of their toil were to have spectacular effects on this country’s social and economic fabric – effects that can still be seen today.

       For many hopeful prospectors, their dreams of wealth were fulfilled, with fields in Thames, the West Coast and Otago yielding this precious metal in abundance. Their successes led to more arrivals, with New Zealand experiencing unprecedented population growth during the gold rush years – increasing by 75% between 1861 and 1864.

       The gold rushes now rank as one of the most powerful stimuli ever for the New Zealand economy, with the South Island, in particular, reaping the benefits of its newfound wealth.

2005 World Wildlife Fund - The Kakapo

       The kakapo (kākāpō) is critically endangered; as of April 2018, the total known adult population was 149 living individuals, as reported by the Kakapo Recovery programme, most of which have been given names. Because of Polynesian and European colonisation and the introduction of predators such as cats, rats, ferrets, and stoats, the kakapo was almost wiped out. 
       Conservation efforts began in the 1890s, but they were not very successful until the implementation of the Kakapo Recovery plan in the 1980s. As of April 2012, surviving Kakapo are kept on three predator-free islands, Codfish (Whenua Hou), Anchor, and Little Barrier islands, where they are closely monitored. Two large Fiordland islands, Resolution and Secretary, have been the subject of large-scale ecological restoration activities to create self-sustaining ecosystems with suitable habitats for the kakapo.

In 2005, NZ Post honoured the work and dedication of the WWF by featuring the kakapo on this four stamp issue. The first-day cover included all four stamps from this inspiring issue along with a special commemorative datestamp which featured the World Wildlife Fund for Nature logo.

2018 - Predator Free 2050.

     Predator Free 2050 is the ambitious goal to remove key mammalian predators from the New Zealand landscape by the year 2050. This effort involves central and local government, iwi, conservation trusts and philanthropists. Predator Free New Zealand Trust (PFNZ) is one of those organisations, working with community groups, schools, marae, neighbourhoods and businesses to ensure our precious native species can flourish for generations to come.

       New Zealand is an isolated island nation where many amazing animal species have evolved in the absence of mammalian predators. However, the introduction of species like rats, stoats and possums has resulted in the endangerment and extinction of many native birds, lizards and insects.

       Despite its reputation as an environmental paradise, New Zealand has the highest percentage of threatened animal species in the world. Over 80% of our native birds are at risk. Alongside large-scale eradication projects led by local and central government, PFNZ is supporting local communities, iwi, farmers and businesses to help in the effort to rid New Zealand of key mammalian predators by 2050, so backyards everywhere will be teeming with native wildlife for generations to come.

       This is a great goal to strive for and if we all get involved it could be achievable. So the question we should be asking is not "Can this ambitious scheme be achieved?" but rather "What can I do to help achieve it?"

       As the manager of a nest of farms, I have control over a large area of farmland, pine forest and native bush. Besides our role of fencing off and planting along waterways, for some years now we have been involved in an eradication program to remove unwanted pests and plant groups of native trees in areas not suitable for grazing. This is already showing signs of increased native bird life in many areas. Our goal - more environmentally friendly farming.

1997 New Zealand Art - Colin McCahon

       McCahon was born in Timaru but spent most of his life in Auckland, where he worked at the Auckland Art Gallery and taught at the Elam School of Art. He began as a landscape painter, and from this, a visionary style evolved featuring the placement of religious images and words against New Zealand landscape backdrops. His painting career spanned five decades.
       Few other 20th century New Zealand painters have received the international respect and admiration that has been accorded to Colin McCahon (1919-1987). The distinctive power and originality of his images have made him a giant of New Zealand painting.

The four stamps of this issue cover the different periods of his painting career as his style and emphasis changed over time.

2006 Summer Festivals

In our final push, to publish all the stamps of  New Zealand, I was given this one, 2006 Summer Festivals. Nice colourful stamps with great subjects too. A lot going on, on each stamp, never seen them before but I love them. Allan also gave me such large sharp images which will really show off these stamp designs.  (Kim)

2006 Summer Festivals Joined Strip.

          When summer arrives, Kiwis throughout New Zealand head for the outdoors. In this diverse country, their activity choices are endless: for the sports-minded, the extensive array of water and land-based pursuits; and for the less energetic, the endless expanses of sun-drenched coastal beaches. But for everyone, there’s the delight of summer festivals – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy entertainment extravaganzas with friends and family alike.

          New Zealand’s Summer Festivals covered a spectrum of themes and activities – from family-focused events to music, theatre and dance and energy-packed sporting spectacles and competitions. Whatever you choose to attend, you can guarantee it will be good for the heart and the soul – a great way to enjoy the season of sunshine.

2005 Commemoratives

In 2005, New Zealand Post celebrated the invaluable and selfless work of three community-based organisations who celebrate key moments in their history. Through this issue, New Zealand Post paid tribute to the many thousands of New Zealanders who, as members and supporters of these three community groups, cared for those around them.

Six single stamps and four miniature sheets.

Let's look at them in more detail below.

2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 80th Birthday

        In 2006 Queen Elizabeth II turned 80. This highly respected and hardworking Head of State has made a remarkable impact on her country and the world stage. Her important personal milestones include her 1997 Golden Wedding and her 2002 Golden Jubilee, and she continues to attend hundreds of public engagements every year.
        From her youngest days, Queen Elizabeth’s life was influenced by her future prospects – at school, she studied constitutional history and law, art and music, combined with horse riding, amateur dramatics and swimming.
        Gradually, she accepted more public responsibilities: sending a radio message to the children of the Commonwealth and Great Britain when she was 14; inspecting the Grenadier Guards (of which she’d been appointed Colonel-in-Chief) when she was 16; and, from 1944 onwards, accompanying the King and Queen on many of their tours of Britain. In 1947 she made a personal dedication to the service of the Commonwealth, repeated in 1953 on her accession to the Throne after the sudden death of her father.

A joint issue miniature sheet commemorating the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II was issued on her birthday - the 21st of April - by New Zealand Post and Jersey Post. The stamps feature a relaxed portrait of the Queen by photographer Julian Calder with a 99% silver foiled border and text.

2006 Kapa Haka - Maori Performing Arts (Withdrawn Issue)

       To tell you the truth, I struggled with the idea of doing a post on this issue. The other writers tell me I am the blog owner but when it comes to decisions like this I usually get out voted. They said this issue is on the NZ Post website, it's on the Stamps NZ website so it should be on ours too. Since I do all the issues with Maori themes, I've got the job.
       The story goes that certain Maori groups were horrified when they saw these stamps and complained to NZ Post. The issue was rejected just before it was issued. All stock already sent out to postal outlets was recovered and returned for destruction so that should have been the end of the story. But it wasn't as some were sent out to 8 customers before the issue date. In spite of attempts to have these returned, some, as listed below never were. 

Generally, I like the great job that has been done over the years regarding our postage stamps. I am proud to see them representing New Zealand as they do. But this set? Guys, what were you thinking? I think I could except most of the designs but those faces! I know the intention might have been not to show any particular person and I suppose it could be argued that in this they succeeded. But they look so ugly, the worse being the woman on the $1.35 value. Ok, I've had my little rave, let's get on and review them now. 

For other posts with Maori themes - New Zealand Maori Index.

1995 Environment Stamp Booklet

New Zealanders are fortunate to live in such a unique and captivating land. There are plant and animal species that are found nowhere else on the planet but live here in a land that is both clean and beautiful. Every person can make small contributions towards maintaining the beauty and richness that surrounds them. The importance of caring for our environment is depicted in this Environment stamp issue.

Set of used stamps.

2018 Scenic Definitives

Definitive Tour

Back to 2017 Scenic Definitives.                Forward to.......

       The Scenic Definitive Series began in 1995 and since then has produced some amazing stamps. The 2018 Scenic Definitives stamp issue highlights three more views of New Zealand's unique lakes, mountains, beaches and stunning natural structures. 
       With steadily declining mail volumes the cost of mail services has continued to rise. By mid-2018 there was a need for rates changes and new definitives. In this case, there was a set of two gummed stamps and a set of two adhesive stamps. The lower value of both sets carried the same design.

The header photograph from the NZ Post website showing all four stamps of this issue.

1995 Centenary Of Rugby League

          Rugby league had its beginnings in Huddersfield on 29 August 1895 when 22 rebellious Yorkshire and Lancashire rugby union clubs in England's industrial north held a meeting in Huddersfield and voted to quit the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and form their own organisation (the Northern Union). Their dissatisfaction stemmed from the RFU's refusal to allow players to be compensated financially for taking time off work to play rugby. It was not long before a new brand of rugby developed. League was on its way. New rules emerged, speeding up the game and making it more open. Out went lineouts, play-the-ball restarts were introduced and, in 1906, teams were reduced from 15 to 13 players. League also became professional.
The 'All Golds'
          Rugby league in New Zealand grew out of the original rugby union All Blacks tour of Britain in 1905-6. Some of the touring New Zealanders watched the league, were impressed with the new game and became converts.
          One of these All Blacks, a fleet-footed winger named George Smith, returned home and quickly teamed up with keen young sportsman and budding entrepreneur Albert Baskerville, to form New Zealand's first rugby league side. Including many former All Blacks and dubbed the 'All Golds' because of its semi-professionalism, the team embarked on a tour of Britain in 1907-8 without having played a single game in New Zealand.
         The tour was a success. The All Golds won 19 of their 35 games including the test series against Great Britain which was won 2 - 1. On the way home the All Golds also captured two of three tests against Australia. On their return, the All Golds made up most of the two teams that squared off in what was the first league match ever held in this country. It took place in Wellington on 13 June 1908 before a crowd of around 7,000. The name All Golds has long been consigned to history but today's 'Kiwis' continue the tradition begun in the early 1900's.

1995 Anniversaries and Events.

Three stamp issues during 1995 celebrating important events.

 

 1995 Conferences.                                                                         1995 United Nations.

1995 Commonwealth Heads.

1997 - Roses - Joint Issue with China.

Chinese and New Zealand Issues.

New Zealand and the People's Republic of China celebrated the beauty and splendour of the rose in this joint stamp issue. The two stamps featured the Rosa rugosa and the Aotearoa-New Zealand roses. The stamps were available as se-tenant pairs of two 40 cent stamps, as well as in a miniature sheet. Both, the New Zealand and the Chinese stamps, carried the same design and all four stamps appeared on the New Zealand first day cover.

We have laid out both issues with their First Day Covers. While showing stamps other than New Zealand could be considered beyond the scope of this blog, we feel with joint issues its worth showing the issues from both countries.