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.

2017 Definitives

Definitive Tour

Back to 2016 Scenic Definitives.                Forward to 2018 Scenic Definitives.

    While New Zealand Post has worked hard to keep postage rates as low as possible, an annual decline in mail volumes has resulted in a review of the costs of our products and services.

      From 1 July 2017 FastPost will increase from $1.80 to $2.30 for a medium letter, from $2.80 to $3.30 for large letters and from $3.80 to $4.30 for oversize letters. To meet these changes, New Zealand Post is issuing two new scenic definitive stamps for the $2.30 and $4.30 denominations. There is already an existing scenic definitive stamp for $3.30 which features the iconic Dunedin railway station.

      Our isolated, water-bound country boasts 14,000 kilometres of unmatchable coastline. From long sandy beaches to steep rocky inclines, New Zealand’s beaches come in all forms, and almost all of them are capable of producing a surfable swell. Following on the theme of the surf-break issue, these two definitive stamps also feature popular surfing locations.

2016 Scenic Definitives

Definitive Tour.

Back to 2014 Scenic Definitives.                Forward to 2017 Scenic Definitives.

       New Zealand is famous for its beautiful and diverse scenery. From the wildness of rugged coastline to snow-capped mountain peaks, there is always a view to be seen and enjoyed.  This is the second issue of the new format where the details and Maori design have been moved to the left-hand side. There are 8 stamps featuring 6 different scenes (2 stamps being issued in an adhesive format as well for stamp books.)
       The purpose of this issue is, of course, definitive stamps, on sale until further notice. These stamps are an addition to the existing Scenic Definitives range and are designed to accommodate the changes in postage rates from 1 July 2016.

              

40c - Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo
(gummed)
Built on the shores of Lake Tekapo in 1935, the Church of the Good Shepherd is an iconic New Zealand location. This interdenominational church is a popular tourist destination, with people travelling from all over New Zealand and abroad to see the stunning views from within the church and to get married against the idyllic backdrop.

2012 Scenic Definitives.

Definitive Tour.

Back to 2009/2010 Scenic Definitives.                                       Forward to 2014 Scenic Definitives.

        Since the 2014 Scenic Definitive Issue has already been covered in this blog, this post will be the last in our Scenic Definitive Series until a new issue appears. We are planning to link them or list them n some way so readers can navigate through them.

        In 2012 three new denominations were added to the current Scenic Definitive Series to cover upcoming changes in postal rates. This stunning new stamp issue showcased three of New Zealand’s most picturesque locations – Cape Reinga, Stewart Island and Lake Matheson.

  

  Also included in this issue were two of the gummed stamps appearing in an adhesive format as well. Earlier in February, another adhesive, $2.40 Lake Rotorua had already been issued, making the six stamps shown here.

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.   

2007 Scenic Definitives

Definitive Tour.

2004-2006 Tourism Definitives.                                                  2009-2010 Scenic Definitives. 

     

        In 2007 New Zealand issued another set of Scenic Definitives. This time there were seven gummed stamps with two designs repeated as adhesive stamps for coils and booklets. These stamps are still current at the time this post was created (March 2015). 

        New Zealand is known as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and each year thousands of visitors make their journey here to enjoy our unique natural environment. As Kiwis, we’re lucky to have such a wonderful environment at our doorstep. This stamp issue is about recognising our unique scenery, protecting it and promoting it overseas. 

\

5c - Whakarewarewa, Rotorua.

2004 - 2006 Tourism Definitives.

Definitives Tour.

Back to 2003 Scenic Definitives                 Forward to 2007 Scenic Definitives.

       These two issues are included in the Scenic Definitive section of Campbell Patterson's Catalogue but to me they seem like they should be separate. They were put like that in the catalogue because they appear as a similar design to the definitives around that time, but I think that the fact they are marketed and named as stamps celebrating New Zealand Tourism means they should be treated as being different.
        So what I have decided to do is to include them in my Scenic Definitive Series but place them both in their own post. In this way I think I've covered both options.

2004 Tourism Issue.
Tourism is an important industry in New Zealand. I lot of money and effort is spent promoting this country as a tourist destination. Doing a set of stamps helps too, particularly when the stamps are sent overseas. This is the first of two issues, each showing six different scenes of tourist locations around New Zealand.


$1.50 - Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown.

2003 Scenic Definitives.

Definitives Tour.

Back to 2000 Scenic Definitives.                     Forward to 2004 - 2006 Tourism Definitives.

       The 2003 Scenic Definitive issue consisted five gummed stamps and one in adhesive format. They were an add-on to those issued in 2000. Again scenes were selected were from various parts of New Zealand. The issue included a limited edition with silver foil in the NZ Post silver fern logo. Lower down under 2004 we have two further designs and three changed to adhesives.

          

50c - Ailsa Mountains.                                   $1.00 - Coromandel.

Mitre Peak, Milford Sound.

Hi! My name is Asami.
        You may not have noticed but I have been doing a lot of work on this blog. I maintain the Health Stamp pages above because they contain internal links that can get rewritten by BlogSpot. I have also created that large index system that many of you are now using. Now I have been asked to do some thematic collections, collections of stamps with a similar theme.

        Recently Allan wrote that he thought there were five stamps showing that famous landmark, Mitre Peak, Milford Sound. I actually found 10 stamps so today I will be putting them into this collection for you.

First the subject of this post - Mitre Peak.
       Part of the reason for its being so famous is its location. Sitting across from the main Milford Sound tourist centres, it is a stunning sight rising near vertically to 5,560 feet (1,690 m), i.e. just over a mile, from the water of the sound. It is said to extend further under the water making the mountain much higher than its officially recorded height. The peak is actually a closely grouped set of five peaks, although from most easily accessible viewpoints it appears as a single point.
       The distinctive shape of the peak gives the mountain its name, after the mitre headwear of Christian bishops. It was named by Captain John Lort Stokes of the HMS Acheron. The Māori name for the peak is Rahotu. 

2000 Scenic Definitives.

Definitives Tour.

Back to 1995 - 1997 Scenic Definitives.                   Forward to 2003 Scenic Definitives.

         The second post of our Scenic Definitives will only cover one year, 2000. The six value 2000 issue of Scenic Definitives was designed as an add-on to the previous 1996.97 issue which was still currently on sale. The stamps were issued in two sets, 4 values in March 2000 and the remaining 2 in October. In between, in April, the $1.10 stamp was reproduced in an adhesive format.

6 March 2000.

        

The Otago Peninsula - $1.00.                           The Kaikoura Coast - $1.10.

1995 - 1997 Scenic Definitives

Definitives Tour.

Back to 1994 $20 Mt Cook Definitive.                              Forward to 2000 Scenic Definitives.

        In 1995 New Zealand started issuing a new series of scenic definitives. This series continues until today with some amazing stamps being released over the years. Take that stamp to the right of the mighty kauri tree Tane Mahuta 'Lord of the Forest'. A stunning photograph with so much detail on such a little stamp. Over a period of time, I intend to post all of these stamps on this blog in a series of pages like this one below. 

        Tracking modern Definitive issues has become a lot harder as they are no longer issued in larger sets like they once were. So a collector has the choice of trying to group them over a period of a few years or show them in his collection according to date of issue. In presenting groups of stamps in this blog, we have a similar problem.
        (You may wish to check out our post on 1985 - 1993 Native Bird Definitives to see how much it took to sort that lot out!) 

       This post will cover the Scenic Definitives issued over the period 1995 - 1997. There were other definitives issued during that period but we have chosen to present only the scenic ones. The first stamp in this collection appeared in October 1995 and the last one in February 1997. Not a long period I know - a little over 1 year but there were some great stamps.

       We have also included the three miniature sheets, issued for stamp exhibitions, that also featured these stamps. There are two other items, a special booklet issue and some adhesive stamps too. I also plan to throw in any other items of interest that I might come across as I prepare this post.

2014 Scenic Definitives

  Definitive Tour.

Back to 2012 Scenic Definitives.                                        Forward to 2016 Scenic Definitives.

      May 7th, 2014 saw the release of a set of five definitive stamps to meet planned changes in postal rates. Three of these stamps were produced using the normal gummed format while another two were produced as adhesive stamps. One of these adhesive stamps was also produced in a gummed version as part of a special miniature sheet. Sound confusing? I will explain this further when we begin looking at the individual stamps.

        There have been a lot of these scenic definitives over the years and many have turned out to be terrible looking stamps. The small format of a postage stamp does not show a lot of detail so what I think makes a good scenic stamp is to capture an interesting foreground combined with a not too crowded distant scene. Some of the stamps below achieve this very well while others don't.

         For me the best was $2.00 - Mount Taranaki, with the cows grazing in the foreground and the mountain behind, this makes a great scene of typical New Zealand. $1.60 - Moeraki Boulders is good too as it captures these unusual boulders. On the other hand I believe the $2.50 - Pancake Rocks do not show us the full effect of this amazing place.