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.

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.

1982 - 1985 Definitives Part Two.

Definitives Tour.

Back to 1980 - 1981 Definitives.                              Forward to 1985 - 93 Native Bird Definitives.

Back to 1982 - 1985 Definitives - Part One.

Black printed double. (See enlargement lower down this page.)

In this second Post on the 1982 - 1985 Definitives I want to look at the subject of each stamp and also provide a few printing errors as well. Again I have treated these as separate issues on the one page.

1982 - 1985 Definitives Part One

Definitives Tour.

Back to 1980 - 1981 Definitives.                              Forward to 1985 - 93 Native Bird Definitives.

Forward to 1982 - 1985 Definitives - Part Two.

During the early eighties there were a few definitive sets issued but by now it was becoming clear that New Zealand was breaking away from the large definitive issues towards smaller, regular issues. This was partly because of rising postal rates meant that a larger definitive issue would quickly become out of date.
I notice that most catalogues seem to put the 1982 Minerals and the 1983 Fruit together as one issue where, as is shown below, they were separate issues over 12 months apart. While displaying them on the same page I have kept them as completely separate issues.

1982 Definitives - Map.

24c - New Zealand Map with Latitude / Longitude Lines.

1967 - 1968 Decimal Pictorials - Part Five

 Definitive Tour.

Back to 1960 - 1966 Pictorial Definitives.                                Forward to 1970 Decimal Pictorials.

        1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part One.

                    An overview of this definitive issue with First Day Covers.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Two.

                    Various extra issues that appeared over the next two years.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Three.

                    The information on the designs/subjects of each stamp in more detail.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Four.

                    Flaws and errors in the lower values.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Five.

                    Flaws and errors in the higher values.

         This is the second page of flaws found in the Decimal Pictorials. Again we see a variety of errors from colour and perferation shifts to paper creasing and large strange blobs of ink. I personally like the example you see below of a major green shift in the 15c Tiki.

1967 - 1968 Decimal Pictorials - Part Four.

 Definitive Tour.

Back to 1960 - 1966 Pictorial Definitives.                                Forward to 1970 Decimal Pictorials.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part One.
                    An overview of this definitive issue with First Day Covers.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Two.
                    Various extra issues that appeared over the next two years.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Three.
                    The information on the designs/subjects of each stamp in more detail.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Four.
                    Flaws and errors in the lower values.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Five.
                    Flaws and errors in the higher values.

      Now we get to some of the errors found in this definitive issue. In this post we will be looking at the low values, the native flower stamps. While we have a good collection here I do believe there are many flaws from these values that we have missed. Therefore I suggest that it might be worth check back on this page from time to time to view any new items.

½c - Manuka.

1967 Pictorial ½c selv pair and a selvage block both with the same grossly misplaced perforations.

1967 - 1968 Decimal Pictorials - Part Three.

 Definitive Tour.

Back to 1960 - 1966 Pictorial Definitives.                                Forward to 1970 Decimal Pictorials.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part One.
                    An overview of this definitive issue with First Day Covers.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Two.
                    Various extra issues that appeared over the next two years.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Three.
                    The information on the designs/subjects of each stamp in more detail.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Four.
                    Flaws and errors in the lower values.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Five.
                    Flaws and errors in the higher values.

1960 - 1967 Designs in Detail.

This third part will show each of the stamps again but now arranged by their value rather than as in Parts One & Two by their issue date. Our purpose here is to consider the design and subject of each stamp. (Since most of these designs are common with the 1960 Pictorials my design notes are the same as well).

1967 Decimal Pictorials.

                

½c - Manuka.                                         1c - Karaka.

1967 - 1968 Decimal Pictorials - Part Two.

 Definitive Tour.

Back to 1960 - 1966 Pictorial Definitives.                                Forward to 1970 Decimal Pictorials.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part One.

                    An overview of this definitive issue with First Day Covers.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Two.

                    Various extra issues that appeared over the next two years.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Three.

                    The information on the designs/subjects of each stamp in more detail.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Four.

                    Flaws and errors in the lower values.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Five.

                    Flaws and errors in the higher values.

1967 - 1968 New Values & Exports.

 A number of changes and new values were added to the 1967 Decimal Pictorials after the initial 18 stamps were issued and before the stamps were replaced by the 1970 Definitives / Pictorials. For convenience we have grouped them together here on one page in the order in which they were issued. Each issue included a First Day Cover which is also featured on this page.

7½ - Fishing - Trout.

1967 - 1968 Decimal Pictorials - Part One.

 Definitive Tour.

Back to 1960 - 1966 Pictorial Definitives.                                Forward to 1970 Decimal Pictorials.

         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part One.
                    An overview of this definitive issue with First Day Covers.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Two.
                    Various extra issues that appeared over the next two years.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Three.
                    The information on the designs/subjects of each stamp in more detail.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Four.
                    Flaws and errors in the lower values.
         1967 - 1968  Decimal Pictorials - Part Five.
                    Flaws and errors in the higher values.

Introduction to the 1967 - 1968 Pictorials.

         The planning of the 1967 definitive set commenced as early as July 1964 but it was not until January 1966 that preliminary notice was given by the New Zealand Post Office that decimal currency stamps would be put on sale on 10 July 
1967, the day when New Zealand would begin the conversion to decimal currency. It was decided that as there was insufficient time to have a new set of pictorial stamps designed and printed, the design and colours of the existing 1960 Pictorial issue would be retained.

         All the sterling currency stamps were withdrawn from Post Offices at the close of business on the last working day prior to Decimal Currency Day. Sterling currency stamps could, however, continue to be used for postage purposes until demonetised on 1 August 1971 or exchanged for decimal currency stamps of equivalent value up until 31 July 1972. On the morning of the 10th July, 1967 the new decimal stamps went on sale. 
         New Zealand decimalised on 10 July 1967, with the New Zealand dollar replacing the New Zealand pound. The conversion rates were the same as Australia's—10c to one shilling, one dollar to 10 shillings, and two dollars to one pound. Confusion was expected with twelve pence becoming ten cents, such as people expecting four cents' change from paying ten cents/one shilling for an item costing eight cents. To help avoid this, the Decimal Currency Board recommended on inter-currency transactions (e.g., paying 4c with £sd coins, or paying 4d with dollar coins) to pay to the next highest five cents or sixpence to get the correct change.

                                                                        Approximant Conversion Chart.
                                       1d     2d     3d     4d     5d     6d     7d     8d     9d     10d     11d     12d. (1 shilling) 
                                       1c     2c      3c         4c         5c      6c     7c            8c           9c      10c.

1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Five.

Definitive Tour.
Back to Elizabeth II Definitives.                                          Forward to 1967 Decimal Pictorials.

          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part One.

                    A summary and overview of this issue with the stamps arranged issued order.

          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Two.
                    This second part shows each of the stamps again but now arranged by their value.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Three.                   

                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - low values.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Four.
                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - high values.

          1960 -1966 Pictorials Part Five.

                    Postal history items.

Other Items Related to the 1960 Pictorials.

By 'other items' I mean items related to the 1960 Pictorials but not included on the first four pages. You could call this the Postal History Page of the 1960 Pictorials. This will be an on going page with more being added as it comes to hand. It is very likely that these items will have been used in other posts, if so a link will be provided here.

1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Four.

 Definitive Tour.

Back to Elizabeth II Definitives.                                       Forward to 1967 Decimal Pictorials.     

          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part One.

                    A summary and overview of this issue with the stamps arranged issued order.

          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Two.
                    This second part shows each of the stamps again but now arranged by their value.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Three.                   

                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - low values.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Four.
                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - high values.

          1960 -1966 Pictorials Part Five.

                    Postal history items.

Flaws and Errors of the 1960 Definitives - High Values.

         Flaws and errors were very common in this issue and in our drop box library we have around 114 images. Some are double ups and others very poor quality so I'm unsure how many will eventually make it into the blog.

          Images of errors and flaws come from a variety of sources, often of different resolutions, so image size becomes a problem. Colour quality and accuracy is also a problem from some image sources too. We also tended to enlarge these stamps for greater clarity and detail of the errors. This often makes for an untidy looking page but we hope this will be overlooked in the interest of viewing some amazing stamps.

         This post will only show errors/flaws in the High values, 9d - New Zealand Flag up to the £1 - Pohutu Geyser. The lower values are on a separate post. 

1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Three

Definitive Tour.

Back to Elizabeth II Definitives.                                          Forward to 1967 Decimal Pictorials.

          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part One.

                    A summary and overview of this issue with the stamps arranged issued order.

          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Two.
                    This second part shows each of the stamps again but now arranged by their value.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Three.                   

                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - low values.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Four.
                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - high values.

          1960 -1966 Pictorials Part Five.

                    Postal history items.

Flaws and Errors of the 1960 Definitives - Low Values.

          Flaws and errors were very common in this issue and in our drop box library we have around 114 images. Some are double ups and others very poor quality so I'm unsure how many will eventually make it into the blog.

          Images of errors and flaws come from a variety of sources, often of different resolutions, so image size becomes a problem. Colour quality and accuracy is also a problem from some image sources too. We also tended to enlarge these stamps for greater clarity and detail of the errors. This often makes for an untidy looking page but we hope this will be overlooked in the interest of viewing some amazing stamps.

         This post will only show errors/flaws in the lower values, native flowers from ½d - Manuka up to the higher 8d - Rata. Errors/flaws for the larger values are on a separate post. 

1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Two

Definitive Tour.
Back to Elizabeth II Definitives.                                          Forward to 1967 Decimal Pictorials.

1960 - 1967 Designs in Detail.

This second part will show each of the stamps again but now arranged by their value rather than as in Part One by their issue date. Our purpose here is to consider the design and subject of each stamp.

              1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part One.

                    A summary and overview of this issue with the stamps arranged issued order.

          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Two.
                    This second part shows each of the stamps again but now arranged by their value.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Three.                   

                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - low values.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Four.
                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - high values.

          1960 -1966 Pictorials Part Five.

                    Postal history items.

Lower Values.
These stamps are more often than not arranged by their value. First comes the Low Values, the little ones in value and size, each displaying a native flower. They begin with the humble ½d going up to the 8d. Why wasn't the 9d included as one too? Back in the world of Sterling Currency 1/- (1 shilling) was equal to 12 pence. Stamps over 8d were not normally issued as mail charges of 10d or 11d could be made up using lesser values. 

                 

1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part One.

Definitive Tour.
Back to Elizabeth II Definitives.                                          Forward to 1967 Decimal Pictorials.

Overview of the 1st Series (Sterling).
This is the first of a series of posts on the large definitive issues of the 1960s.

          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part One.

                    A summary and overview of this issue with the stamps arranged issued order.

          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Two.
                    This second part shows each of the stamps again but now arranged by their value.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Three.                   

                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - low values.
          1960 - 1966 Pictorials Part Four.
                    Flaws and errors of the 1960 definitive - high values.

          1960 -1966 Pictorials Part Five.

                    Postal history items.

 

After the Queen Elizabeth II definitives of the 1950s by 1958 New Zealand was looking for a new definitive issue. In November 1958 the Postmaster-General announced that a new set of pictorial stamps would be issued progressively from July 1960.

A public competition was held to obtain designs and 1,072 entries were received from 268 competitors.  

The first stamps of this new definitive issue appeared in July, 1960. Two months later, on the 2nd September, another six values were added. Over the next few years, changes in postal rates would lead to another three values being added and two values were reissued with more colourful designs. Finally on the 10th July 1967, the entire issue would be replaced with decimal stamps using the old designs with new decimal values. 

1957 Anniversaries.

        In 1957 New Zealand began the tradition of issuing stamps to celebrate Anniversaries. There had been some before this but only for cities and provinces. This changed in 1957 when NZ Post began issuing stamps celebrating the anniversaries of important events and organisations.

       The two issue below were actually released at separate times during the year but we have grouped them together for this post. First we have the 1957 Lamb Export 75th Anniversary and then we feature the 1957 Plunket Society 50th Anniversary.

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.

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.