2010 Ross Dependency - Whales of the Southern Ocean.

I like whales, watching them on TV, seeing how beautiful, almost graceful as they move through the water. It is hard to imagine that creatures that large could move like that. Once, during one of our regular trips to visit family in the South Island, we did a whale watching boat trip. This was from Kaikoura, before the earthquakes when whale watching was a big tourist attraction. I was surprised how many we saw and how they allowed the tourist boat to venture so close. Watching these large animals as they slowly moved was the highlight of that trip.

         'Whales' is the name given to the group of carnivorous marine mammals that spend their entire lives in the sea (or sometimes rivers). There are two groups of modern whale: the filter-feeding baleen whales, and the echo-locating toothed whales.

         Three families of baleen whale are represented in the Southern Ocean (rorqual, right whale and pygmy right whale), and five families of toothed whale (sperm whale, diminutive sperm whale, beaked whale, dolphin and porpoise).  These fascinating mammals are the focus of the Ross Dependency 2010 stamp issue. Consisting of five large stamps (50mm x 30mm) and a range of collectable stamp products, it’s an issue that’s sure to impress.

2010 100 Years of Surf Life Saving

Summer 2010/11 marked a century-long legacy of heroic service on New Zealand beaches, and New Zealand Post celebrated with the 100 Years of Surf Life Saving stamp issue. This interesting stamp issue depicted surf lifeguards in action - patrolling beaches and rescuing swimmers in heavy surf on beaches up and down the country. 

Each stamp depicted an aspect of Surf Life Saving, and all five stamps were captured together on the first day cover. I like the way each design through this whole issue had a common theme of the lifeguard on the left, always alert, always watching what is going on. Also available was a special presentation pack, in which Bob Harvey, President of Surf Life Saving New Zealand, tells the story of the Surf Life Saving movement in New Zealand.

2010 Ancient Reptiles of New Zealand

In 2010 New Zealand Post celebrated our incredible extinct natural heritage with an issue of five oversized stamps and five amazing coins. These species disappeared 65 million years ago, but with a little help from New Zealand Post, you can see what it might have been like to meet them face to face. A hundred million years ago, our land formed the eastern margin of the southern super-continent of Gondwanaland. Separated by ocean, ‘Zealandia’ had its own group of dinosaurs, pterosaurs (flying reptiles) and giant marine reptiles that thrived here for 20 million years.

2010 Regional Postage

At the request of Post Shops in tourist destinations around New Zealand, New Zealand Post tested the popularity of regional booklets of stamps with this issue of two booklets for Kaikoura.

Antarctica Post - Page Two

        Antarctica Post has issued a new stamp each year since 2002. These stamps are designed and issued with the help of New Zealand Wine Post. Their stamps secure special delivery between the USA bases, South Pole Station or McMurdo Station to Antarctica Post Agency in Dunedin. Once the letter reaches New Zealand it is forwarded using other postal services.

         As well as providing a postal service they also have an eye for the collector market as well. They offer a service where for $10.00 they will provide a letter or postcard cancelled at the South Pole and sent to you via New Zealand. Examples of these can be seen on this page.

         There will be some small, poor quality stamps in this collection until we can find better replacements. We considered it was better to present a complete collection rather than go for a part collection of good quality stamps. Like we did with our NZ Wine Post collection, this post will be published partly finished with further work continuing after that. For updates see our 'What is New in this Blog.'

Our collection of Antarctica Post stamps has continued to grow until now the decision has been made to establish the second page.     

Go Back to Antarctica Post - Page One.  (Issues 2002 - 2009)

2010 Matariki - Maori Kites.

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.

See our Matariki Collection.                       See our Index - New Zealand Maori.

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.

Personalised Stamps

          Personalised Stamps have been issued in a number of formats since 2001. The basic idea is that you add your own photograph or logo to the one provided by NZ Post. Your personal stamps are then created and sent to you. While there is an extra cost involved you do get a postage stamp the is uniquely you.
          In this post, we intend to show you each issue listed by year on the one page. There is not much description needed and in many cases, the same design appears a number of times with different values. In some cases, the same stamp has appeared twice in the same issue with different values too. While this may not turn out to be the most popular post on this blog we all thought these issues need to be covered as they are genuine stamps able to be used for postage by their purchaser.
          Before Personalised Stamps, there was a series of four issues known as Greeting Stamps. These began in 1988 and went through until Personalised Stamps began in 2001. The first two issues of Personalised Stamps from 2001 and 2005 could also be considered as Greeting Stamps two so we have included them here and in our Greeting Stamp collection.

                

New Zealand Wine Post 2010 - Today

         Stamps and many of the items found on these pages can be purchased from:-

New Zealand Wine Post. (Stampmetro) 

         This is the third part of our New Zealand Wine Post collection, taking us through the third 10 years. This collection is incomplete and needs a lot more work in some areas but we've decided to open it for viewing as we continue adding new items and completing further sections.

         The Wine Post, also known as New Zealand Wine Post, is a privately owned postal service in New Zealand. It is operated by Weston Winery New Zealand, which is the World's Most Southern Winery and acts as its only post office. The Wine Post began issuing its own postage in 1990. It is one of the many independent posts of New Zealand which has a deregulated postal environment. The Wine Post stamps are for their domestic and international postage for their own winery.

                 Collection Overview.

                Page One - New Zealand Wine Post   1990 - 1999.

            Page Two - New Zealand Wine Post   2000 - 2009.

            Page Three - New Zealand Wine Post 2010 - Today.

            Special Page - New Zealand Wine Post - Official Stamps.

                  Special Page - New Zealand Wine Post - Wine Labels.

2009 - 2010 Scenic Definitives.

Definitive Tour.

   Back to 2007 Scenic Definitives.                                           Forward to 2012 Scenic Definitives.  

   

   New Zealand Post continued with its Scenic Definitive Series with two issues in 2009 & 2010. Again the scenes were spread widely across New Zealand. While I like these stamps and have enjoyed featuring them in this series of posts I can't help wondering if this definitive series doesn't get mixed up with issues from the longer running scenic series that appears each year.   

150 Posts - Celebrate New Zealand.

        
          In some ways this blog is a celebration of New Zealand through the stamps which it issues. We have looked at many aspects of this country, from its beautiful scenery to its relatively short history; form the culture of the Maori people to the proud achievements of a modern country. Of course there is much more to come. Over the next fifty posts we will continue to explore more of New Zealand's culture, heritage and history through the many issues of stamps we have yet to feature.  

          For now I want to sit back and reflect what has been achieved here. This blog started small with only one person posting. I never intended to select my post subjects in an organised way, rather just doing whatever appeals to me at the time. In some ways this has created a disorganised collection of posts, in other ways it has led to a wide variety of subjects.

         Recently a new index system listing and connecting every post to a historical list of issues has been developed by one of our writers, Asami. Another writer, Mary, has almost completed the classic section of New Zealand stamps. Her intention is to continue working forward through the 1930s. Our writer, Anne, is new to postage stamp collecting, her passion is writing. With our help and advice she has turned our some interesting posts. In another recent development we have considered the deeper aspects of stamp collecting by starting to include technical details on each stamp issue we write about now. 

          So now we come to two questions:- First; how do we celebrate 150 posts? Second; Where do we go from here?

          The second question is easy to answer. We continue on as we have been doing, posting, developing, changing as we feel the need.

         As for the first question, a recent meeting between us we looked at ideas and it finally came down to two. One was to do a post featuring stamps from many of our more popular posts, in effect letting you, our readers decided which stamps to use in a review of 150 posts. The other idea was that we should feature an issue that celebrates New Zealand in some way, which is where I began above. To celebrate New Zealand is the underlying purpose of this blog. This is what we decided, the sheet shown below was selected and it was decided I should do this post.

          First I have shown the whole sheet, then I have broken it up into single stamps so we can view each one in greater detail. When I look at this sheet I wonder just how many of them were actually broken up. In my case I just cut them out on the computer. I hope you enjoy this post as something a bit different and I hope you will still be reading this blog 50 posts from now when we celebrate 200 posts.      Allan

1998 / 2010 The Year of the Tiger.

         After doing my last Chinese New Year post they suggested I should do another two. At the moment there are only two signs left where NZ Post has released two issues. All the others have been done already in this blog. Go see the links in our Chinese New Year Collection.

        Chinese people have been part of New Zealand’s cultural make-up since the 1860s, when the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce sought workers for the Otago gold mines. From a population of just over 1,200 in 1867, the Chinese/ Taiwanese Chinese population had grown to more than 145,000 – a vital part of a multicultural society. Today (2015) that number is much larger and you will find Chinese, or other Asians in all sectors of New Zealand society.

       Chinese New Year festivals have rapidly become a highlight of New Zealand’s entertainment calendar. They include colourful street parades, a bustling Asian markets and local or international cultural performances of various kinds. We usually go to the lantern festival held in Albert Park of downtown Auckland. As well as the displays and lights, there are the dancing displays and stalls. Oh not forgetting the food! 

         People born in the Year of the Tiger (1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986 and 1998) are generally well liked because of their charismatic personalities. Always at their happiest when climbing the ladder of success, they are quick learners and like their sign, often prefer to hunt (work) alone. Famous ‘Tigers’ include Agatha Christie, Marilyn Monroe, Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Cruise.

The Round Kiwis

 
       When I published my post on the 2014 Antarctica Penguins, Allan wrote a comment on the round design of the stamps. I objected to his comment and wanted it removed. He replaced it with a better-worded comment. During the course of discussing it, he mentioned that New Zealand had issued other round stamps. He even said there had been a series of Round Kiwis that looked like coins. So I went looking for them.

       In 1988 a stamp design appeared that was rather unique. It was New Zealand's first round stamp, featuring a kiwi in its design. The Maori motif around the border represents the kowhai tree flower, symbolising the continuous cycle of life. Like Allan said above, it actually appears more like a coin than a stamp. The stamp was engraved by G T Prosser of the British American Banknote Inc. Canada from a design completed by Allan Mitchell.
       This stamp was initially produced in a green colour (1988), in booklets of six stamps, later printings in sheet format were in red (1991), blue (1993) and purple (1997). The first three printings of this stamp were by Leigh-Mardon by intaglio with the red and blue printings in sheets of 24 stamps. The purple printing was produced by Southern Colour Print by lithography in sheets of 36 stamps.
        Kiwi are flightless, nocturnal birds endemic to Aotearoa. They emerge from their burrows after dark to forage noisily along the forest floor and sniff out worms and insects. Their nostrils are at the base of their bill and give the kiwi a superior sense of smell that makes up for its poor eyesight. Kiwi have been described as ‘honorary mammals’ because of their hair-like feathers, long tactile whiskers at the base of their bill, and their marrow-filled bones. Kiwi are also sometimes called ‘te manu huna a Tāne’ - the hidden bird of Tāne, the god of the forest.

Wildlife - Game Bird Habitat.

         The New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Trust, established under the 1953 Wildlife Act, exists primarily to improve New Zealand game bird habitat, and secondarily to improve the habitat for other wildlife. The key purpose of the Game Bird Habitat Trust Board is to distribute funding for the development and enhancement of wetland habitat for the benefit of game birds and other wetland inhabitants.

         The New Zealand Fish and Game Council commenced issuing $10 license stamps in 1994.  The stamp is affixed to the game bird hunter's license thus validating the license for the current year. $2 of the license fee goes towards establishment and protection of Game Bird Habitats. The stamps and related products such as miniature sheets and First Day Covers are also marketed by NZ Post with funding received going back to the Habitat Trust.

          I first saw these stamps on the NZ Post website a few months ago. A web search revealed a few extra years to the ones offered by NZ Post. Since it seemed an impossible exercise to find all of these stamps, or for that matter even establish how many years they had been issued, I dropped the project in favour of many others I could complete. Yesterday I found them all except the year 2011 which I just happened to have already so now I am able to feature them in a post on this blog. 

          The date shown under each stamp relates to the year of issue of the stamp, not the year the license expires as shown on the stamp itself.

2010 Shanghai World Expo.

        This must be one of the more unique issues New Zealand has ever done. They are almost like two stamps from two different countries which have somehow found themselves joined, grafted together, making one stamp.

        These stamps were issued to coincide with the opening of ‘Expo 2010 Shanghai China’. The theme of the Expo was ‘Better City, Better Life’ and New Zealand's pavilion follows this with the theme ‘Cities of Nature, Living between Land and Sky’.
        The issue draws on five parallels between New Zealand and Chinese culture and geography, and features illustrations inspired by some of the items in the New Zealand Pavilion. The stamps are double length and designed to be folded over the edge of special first day covers with two fronts and no back. See this cover further down.

2010 ANZAC III - Remembrance

        The theme of the 2010 ANZAC issue took on a more modern theme by looking at some of the activities of the modern ANZAC Day to see how New Zealanders today remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. This was done by looking at six ANZAC Day scenes from 1932 to 2010. Especially featured are services which have taken place overseas. 

                                         

Rugby on New Zealand Stamps

       

          As the title above says, this post is about the history of New Zealand Rugby as told by the stamps of New Zealand.

1967 Health - New Zealand Rugby.
         

          We begin our search for New Zealand Rugby Stamps with the Health Issue of 1967. When New Zealand was changing to decimal currency and so it was decided to start a new sporting theme in the Health  Stamp Series. As the New Zealand Rugby Union was celebrating their 75th Anniversary the first stamps of this new theme depicted rugby. Each design featured a boy playing rugby football with a shadow figure of an 'All Black' player in the background.

                               

1967 Rugby - 2 1/2c + 1c                           1967 Rugby - 3c + 1c