1997 New Zealand Wine Regions / Vineyards

In 1997, NZ Post wrote as they issued these stamps:- 
"New Zealand burst onto the world wine stage in the 1980s with striking Sauvignon Blancs that crammed more flavour into the glass than any other country had ever achieved with that classic French variety. Today's (1997) wines are riper and less green-edged in an easier-drinking style, but they are still considered to be some of the best in the world. New Zealand's climate and soils are the key assets that enable the production of outstanding table wines. Around the world, the finest wines are grown in regions with relatively cool climates where grapes are able to ripen fully but slowly, retaining their refreshing acidity while building up subtle aroma and flavours."

In 2018, when I am writing this, the wine industry of New Zealand has continued building from strength to strength. New Zealand's wine production has been undergoing rapid growth, averaging 17% per annum for the last 20 years. In 2017 New Zealand produced 285 million litres from 37,129 hectares (91,750 acres) of vineyard area, about three-quarters of which is dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc. Nearly 90% of total production is exported, chiefly to the United States, Britain and Australia, reaching another record of NZ$1.66 billion in export revenue in 2017. New Zealanders over the last ten years consumed a fairly constant 20 litres of wine per capita, about a third of which is imported from other countries, mainly Australia.

Personal Comment - New Zealanders should stop buying the cheap Australian wines dumped on our market here and start buying many of the quality New Zealand wines that can often be purchased at not much more than the Australian ones.

1995 Farm Animals Booklets

        Finding this booklet was a major find for me. I collect New Zealand stamps connected with farming. It's a thematic collection on a subject I am very knowledgeable about since I am the manager of a large farm. With this booklet, I was able to add another 10 stamps plus two complete booklets to my collection. The stamps are colourful and cover a wide range of animals you might find on a farm. The one that stands as missing is a cat, they are always there, useful for catching mice etc. 

An overlapping set of the 10 45c stamps. (1st issue)

       The export of sheep, wool and dairy products has brought New Zealand billions of dollars and continues to do so today. Back in the 1960s, the majority of New Zealand farms would have been stocked with most of the animals featured in this booklet - horses, pigs, fowls, ducks and turkeys. Advances in technology and transport and a higher standard of living meant that by 1995, more specialised farming practices without the varied range of animals of previous decades. 

       Deer and goat farms were a relatively new phenomenon in 1995. Deer farming for their meat has been a big export earner whilst goats also became an important economic sideline for many farmers who were diversifying. Today, in 2018, this trend of change has continued with a large increase in dairy farming in recent years.

2006/2018 Year of the Dog.

2018  The Year of the Dog.

Chinese New Year celebrations begin 16 February 2018, and according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, this year is the Year of the Dog. New Zealand Post has created a special stamp, gold-sheet and medallion issue to celebrate this important Chinese event.

People born in this year tend to have decisive, loyal and loving personality traits which can make them fierce and long-lasting friends. But, because they have quite cautious characteristics, they can take time to form these bonds and can be easily distressed if trust is broken.

The Stamps.

$1.00 - Calligraphy.

The Chinese New Year celebration is dominated by the traditional Chinese colour, red. It reflects a positive, warm, and peaceful atmosphere. Calligraphy is another traditional Chinese New Year element used for household scrolls and art exhibitions. Here, the cloud pattern is a metaphor for good luck in Chinese and ‘the land of the long white cloud’ New Zealand.

1991 Sheep Breeds of New Zealand

        The cornerstone of New Zealand's farm-based economy has always been sheep; a common saying since the early days of the colony has been that the people of New Zealand 'live off the sheep's back'. Although we are now active in the export of a diverse range of other goods, sheep remain a mainstay of our prosperity, right up until more recently when another farming sector, dairy took over.

        It is probable that the first sheep to set foot on New Zealand arrived in 1814 with the missionary Samuel Marsden. It was not until after 1834, however, when the first Australian merinos were landed on Mana Island, bound for the Wairarapa, that sheep were farmed in any volume - and a flourishing wool trade with Europe was developed. An export trade in sheep meat was initiated in 1882, and today New Zealand has an enviable international reputation as an efficient producer and exporter of top quality meat and wool products.
        In New Zealand, sheep are raised for both meat and wool. Since the mid 19th century, New Zealand farmers have worked to perfect breeds which meet the dual purpose needs of both wool and meat. The dual purpose breeds are favoured for their valuable fleece, regular lamb production, multiple births, good maternal instincts, high milk production and easy care characteristics. Five successful New Zealand cross-breeds, along with the traditional English Romney, are featured in this stamp issue.

1981 - 1982 Scenic Stamps

1981 Scenic Stamps - Rivers.

See the full collection Scenic Stamps Series - Part One.
Four rivers and streams from a rushing mountain stream to a gently flowing river.

     

30c - Kaiauai River.                                       35c - Mangahao River.

1968 - Trade Definitives.

         This is the third of a series of three that I am doing on the Agriculture Industries of New Zealand. In the first one, the 1936 Chamber of Commerce, we looking at the four major export industries of the 1930s. Of course these were primary industries, mainly farming of sheep and cattle.

1936 Chamber of Commerce.

1968 - 1969 Trade Definitives.

        Now I find this set of Trade Definitives has a lot in common with that earlier set. The wool, the meat and dairy are back again. So is the apples and the general theme of export industries. But now fishing and timber has been added too. I have included both sets above for comparison.
        Of course these stamps have a more modern appearance, using colour and photographs to deliver their message. The idea of the insert is there again too, but this time a lot bigger, taking almost a third of the stamp.

1978 Agriculture - Lincoln College Centenary

         I hesitated on doing this set because of the style of the stamps but then decided that the themes behind the designs are important to Agriculture and New Zealand's primary export industries.

         In 1978 Lincoln College celebrated its centenary. NZ Post marked the event by issuing this six value set. They also wrote on their web site:-
       "The College was founded in 1878 on 100,000 acres of pastoral land that had been set aside for the purpose by the Provincial Council of Canterbury. Mr W E Ivey was appointed the first director of the College.  Grassland farming is New Zealand's most important industry and the source of over 80 percent of the country's exports.  The College continues to develop its resources to meet the challenges of modern agricultural needs - through the application of the findings of research, use of machinery, topdressing of pasture and efficient agricultural management."

         Technology and knowledge are the keys to modern faming in New Zealand. New ways, new systems, new technology is being developed all the time. The problem for the New Zealand farmer is keeping up with it all. Some, like some of the smaller farmers around here, avoid everything new and stick to the ways they have always done it. Others like us, with the support and backing of a corporate investment company, take on and use new technology, new ideas. The result is the small farmer gets the same results he has always got, then can't understand how our average production per head has increased by nearly 20% compared to his.
         This knowledge can be gained from a variety of sources such as Magazines and Books, TV Shows, Field Days and Open Days. It can also be gained through education at farming schools, colleges and universities. Two of the staff who work for me currently attend a school one day a week, plus have assignments to do. As they progress through the various subjects I can see the changes in the way they view farming and go about their daily tasks.  

1936 Chamber of Commerce.

         This post is the first of three I will be doing on New Zealand primary export industries. This issue is the 1936 Chamber of Commerce while the second will be a set of 6 stamps issued in 1968 Trade Definitives. The third will be the 1978 Agriculture / Lincoln College Centenary. All three of these stamp issues are whole devoted to the Agriculture Industries. 

        The five stamps of this issue commemorate the Congress of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, held at Wellington in October 1936. The Congress, first
convened in London in 1855, was a triennial event and this was the first occasion it had met in New Zealand.

        The stamps show the four main exports from New Zealand in the 1930s. When I was given this stamp issue to write about, Allan said do that thing you do about cows and sheep. Ok then Allan, you want my thing. LOL here goes.

1997 / 2009 The Year of the Ox.

The Year of the Ox



     

          People born in the Year of the Ox are natural leaders – dependable, calm, modest and hardworking. Just like the animal they represent, they are tireless in their work and capable of enduring any hardship without complaint. They’re also known for their intelligence, although they can be strong-minded and stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. Famous Oxen include Napoleon Bonaparte, Vincent Van Gogh and Walt Disney.

          In 1997, New Zealand first issued a miniature sheet for the 11th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition. Three stamps from the Cattle of New Zealand issue was included in this sheet as it was also intended to celebrate the Chinese New Year, in this case the Year of the Ox.

          Twelve years later New Zealand again celebrated the Year of the Ox, this time with a set of three stamps and what had by then become the annual miniature sheet. This is the purpose of this post to look at both these issues in greater detail than they were presented in our Chinese New Year collection.

         I hope to return to this post in another twelve years and add the third stamp issue celebrating the Year of the Ox. Meanwhile you can view our Chinese New Year Collection.

2003 / 2015 The Year of the Sheep.

        In 2003 and 2015 Chinese celebrated The New Year under the Chinese lunar sign The Year of the Sheep. In both years New Zealand Post issued stamps and a miniature sheet to mark this event. Following on with Allan's series of Chinese New Year issues, I will be looking at both of  these issues in this post. When we reach the Year of the Sheep for a third time I hope to include that issue here as well.

      See our complete collection of Chinese New Year Issues.

2015 The Year of the Sheep.

 The Chinese Zodiac consists of 12 signs of the zodiac – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey rooster, dog and pig. Also known as Year of the Ram or Goat, the sheep is the eighth animal in the Chinese lunar calendar, and is known to be gentle and calm.
Calm and gentle, I like that; it describes sheep well. Sheep are not dumb animals as many would believe. The main problem is when they are being herded or handled be humans, they become stressed. Then all reason goes out the door. Take your time, herd them gently, keep the dogs backed off and you'll be amazed how much difference it makes.

1970s Vintage Transport Series.

       During the mid 1970s New Zealand issued a yearly set of stamp featuring vintage transport. I think it might be better if we view these sets in one group rather than individual issues.  I have combined these issues to make and interesting series of 30 stamps depicting the development of early transport in New Zealand. Maybe one day I might return to view each issue in greater detail.

   

See the 1984 - 1986 Vintage Transport Issues.

2013 Honey Bees.

         To mark 100 years of the National Beekeepers Association, New Zealand issued this attractive set of five values. The issue date is the 3rd of July and the stamps were be sold in sets or singles, as well as the usual miniature sheet and first day cover.
        There are a number of things which I like about this set. First the subject is one I like. I like eating natural honey and until recently we had bee hives on this property where I live. Secondly I find the stamps are attractive with clear pictures of their subjects. Thirdly the five stamps fit together to tell the story of honey from the flower to eating.

70c Collection the Nectar.

       On the first stamp the bees fly out to the flowers. Scouts have gone out and found the flowers then returned to tell the workers. The workers move from flower to flower collecting nectar as they go.