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.

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.

2005/2017 Year of the Rooster

2017 - Year of the Rooster.

         The Year of the Rooster will begin on 28 January, 2017 and will be celebrated in New Zealand and around the world. The rooster is the tenth animal in the Chinese zodiac and those born in the Year of the Rooster are loyal, trustworthy, observant and keen to offer their opinions to those around them. Character traits associated with the Rooster include confidence, courageousness and resourcefulness.

        NZ Post issued this set of four values along with the usual Miniature Sheet and First Day Covers. There were the usual collector's items such as plate blocks, value blocks and full sheets. Also, an attractive presentation pack could be purchased as well. The highlight of the collector items was a numbered and framed gold foil miniature sheet.  

     
  The photo to the left was taken at the 2016 Chinese New Year - Lantern Festival.

Return to our Chinese New Year Collection.

2004/2016 Year of the Monkey

Monkey Lantern - Auckland.

         The monkey is the ninth animal in the Chinese zodiac and is considered clever and cheeky. People born in the Year of the Monkey are witty and intelligent with magnetic personalities and tend to be fast learners and astute opportunists. Personality traits such as mischievousness and curiosity mean that people often perceive monkeys as ‘naughty’.

Return to our Chinese New Year Collection.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2002 / 2014 The Year of the Horse.

      2002 and 2014 celebrated The New Year under the Chinese lunar sign The Year of the Horse. In both years New Zealand issued stamps and a miniature sheet to mark this event. Following on with my series of Chinese New Year issues I will be looking at both these issues in this post. When we reach the Year of the Horse for a third time I hope to include that issue here as well.

      See my complete collection of Chinese New Year Issues.

2014   The Year of the Horse.

        In 2014 NZ Post, followed what has be an annual issue, by issuing a set for four stamps and a miniature sheet for Chinese New Year. This time the theme was the horse since the year is the Year of the Horse.

       As has happened for the last few years, four stamps were issued, each showing a different aspect of Chinese culture. First is the pictogram on the lower value. The second value again shows the paper-cut horse.   

                                                 

    70c - Pictogram.                                                             $1.40 - Paper-cut Horse.

                   

     $1.90 - Equestrian.                           $2.40 - Rotorua Museum.

1999 / 2011 The Year of the Rabbit.

       1999 and 2011 celebrated The New Year under the Chinese lunar sign The Year of the Rabbit. In both years New Zealand issued stamps to mark this event. Following on with my series of Chinese New Year issues I will be looking at both these issues in this post. When we reach the Year of the Rabbit for a third time I hope to include that issue here too.
      See my complete collection of Chinese New Year Issues.

2011  The Year of the Rabbit.

       The third year of NZ Post's second cycle of Chinese New Year signs was the Year of the Rabbit. Again modern stylised stamps were used followed the four stamp pattern set in 2010. The first stamp (60c) shows the Chinese character which reflects the awareness and alertness of the rabbit. The second value ($1.20) shows the paper cut design, this time of a rabbit.



                                    

60c - Year of the Rabbit.                                     $1.20 - Rabbit Paper-cut. 

2000 / 2012 The Year of the Dragon.

See my complete collection of Chinese New Year Issues.

Dragon from the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival, Auckland 2016.

2012 The Year of the Dragon.

        In 2012 New Zealand again celebrated Chinese New Year with a set of four stamps. These same stamps also appeared on the miniature sheet issued at the same time. The stamps followed the recent trend of having the Chinese symbol on the lowest value, then two values depicting an associated with the Lunar Year, in this case a dragon and the highest value a New Zealand Icon.

        The dragon is an important ancient symbol for the Chinese people, and it is believed to ward off evil spirits. Everything connected with the dragon is thought to be blessed, which makes this lunar stamp issue particularly special.

2001 / 2013 Year of the Snake

          Each year of the Chinese lunar calendar is represented by a different animal. 2001 & 2013 were the sixth in the calendar cycle, The Year of the Snake. Traditionally the Chinese have thought of those born during the Year of the snake as being elegant, insightful, motivated and highly intellectual. According to ancient Chinese folklore, snakes were well thought of. They were considered to be deities in disguise, and a snake entering a house was said to bring good fortune for all who live there.
         See my complete collection of Chinese New Year Issues.

2013

         The 2013 Year of the Snake stamp issue reflects different aspects of Chinese tradition and culture. The four illustrated stamps also celebrate New Zealand's growing Chinese community and are an essential addition to any lunar stamp collection.

  

70c - Chinese Calligraphic Snake.

The Chinese 'snake' character on this stamp was painted by Zhao Meng-fu,

a scholar, painter and calligrapher from the Yuan Dynasty (1254-1322 AD).

2012 Beijing International Stamp and Coin Expo

         This expo was held at the Exhibition Hall of the China World Trade Centre in Beijing. It attracted collectors and international exhibitors to showcase their numismatic and philatelic products on a global scale. It was also a chance for China to open up its stamps and coins to the world. This expo was first held in 1995.
         To mark this event, on Nov 2, New Zealand Post issued a exhibition miniature sheet and souvenir cover to celebrate the expo. The souvenir miniature sheet incorporates three stamps from the 2012 Year of the Dragon stamp issue set against an image of the Dunedin Railway Station, which also features on one of the stamps. Dunedin was one of the earliest settlements for Chinese immigrants in New Zealand.

          I have personally never been a great fan of miniature sheets. Since they are not usually found attached to letters other than first day covers. The design on this sheet is colourful and shows three of the values from the 2012 Year of the Dragon issue with the fourth left off. 

Technical information

Date of issue:	2 November 2012
Miniature sheet and exhibition souvenir cover designed by:	Stamps Business, New Zealand Post, Wellington
Printer and process:	Southern Colour Print Ltd by offset lithography
Number of colours:	Four process colours
Paper type:	Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper
Period of sale:	These stamps remained on sale until 1 November 2013.

Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ

You can visit their website and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/

Information for this post came from.

New Zealand Post (Stamps)