2018 Thinking Outside the Square.

         When it comes to ingenuity and thinking outside the square, Kiwis win hands down. In fact, we’re world-famous for it! Backyard inventors, dreaming up widgets and gadgets, and all manner of things made from ‘number 8 wire’. Stuff that people didn’t know they needed until they saw or used it. That’s what sets us apart from the rest of the world. Here are just a few of the cool creations New Zealanders have come up with.

1997 Wackiest Letterboxes

A competition was launched in September 1996 with the aim of finding New Zealand's wackiest letterboxes. From Canterbury to the Coromandel, and from Wanaka to the Wairarapa proud mailbox remodellers sent in photos of their creations, in the hope of getting their letterbox on a stamp. Over 300 entries were received from which ten letterboxes were finally selected. The winner had to be interesting, creative and out of the ordinary, but also had to be "postie-friendly" and practical.

1994 Beach Cricket Booklet

Beach Cricket Booklet.

One of the most popular summer pastimes in New Zealand is to go down to the beach - swim, sunbathe, picnic and have a game of beach cricket. It only needs a softball and a piece of wood for a bat, a few sticks for the wickets and the fun begins. This game bears little resemblance to the cricket of the stadium or even the village green - there are few rules, no age limits and as many people as care to can play at once.

NZ Post issued this booklet as part of marking this important milestone in the history of cricket in New Zealand. 

1994 Centenary of the New Zealand Cricket Council.

2017 The Great Kiwi Road Trip.

The tea towel and the sheet of stamps showing the Great Kiwi Road trip.

Personal Message & Greeting Stamps.

        Sometime ago Anne did a post on Personalised Stamps. These seemed to have appeared in 2001 and continued on until today. Well recently we found another series of stamps that are close cousins to the Personalised Stamps, these are the Greeting Stamps. There appears to have been four of these issues with another two that appear to be a cross between Greeting and Personalised Stamps.

        This post is intended to cover the first four Greeting Stamp issues and I've also included the other two cross issues that are also found in our Personalised Stamps collection, (See link above.)

         Greeting stamps were usually issued in booklets so could be included in a booklet collection. Their purpose was to provide stamps for special purpose greeting cards and letters. The idea being that when you sent a birthday card you could use a stamp saying 'Happy Birthday' too.

2016 It's a Kiwi Thing

A post celebrating the quintessentially quirky Kiwi things we do with NZ Post's latest Kiwiana-themed stamp issue - It’s a Kiwi Thing. From the adrenaline-charged thrill of a bungee jump with nothing more than a rubber band around your ankles to the perilous dangers of hot mince-pie handling, it’s these Kiwi things that make us who we are.

2011 Counting in Kiwi.

We take a numerical journey from 1 to 21 in a ‘Kiwi’ way with the Counting in Kiwi stamp issue. With each number, you’ll discover unique and quirky aspects of New Zealand’s culture, history and Kiwiana. Each of the 21 stamps in the issue has a distinctive ‘Kiwi’ flavour.

                        

Of course we start at number 1, which is represented by State Highway 1 – the road that runs the length of both the North and South Islands. As we count higher, we discover snippets of the New Zealand way of life until we reach 21 – the milestone birthday that is widely celebrated in New Zealand with a traditional 21st key.

2015 Kiwi Kitchen.

          Brought to life by New Zealand artist Jason Kelly, this kitschy stamp issue combines well known Kiwi dishes with Kelly’s signature humour. Each stamp was originally painted on a wooden panel, and together they make a unique sheet of 18 stamps. The stamps were only available on this special sheet or on a set of three First Day Covers.

          As it is with many countries around the world, the pride of many Kiwi homes is the kitchen, and the easiest way to a Kiwi’s heart is through their stomach. New Zealand is home to loads of weird and wonderful recipes that combine simple, but flavoursome ingredients to create home and party staples that can only be described as quintessentially Kiwi.

          Who would’ve thought that an afternoon tea favourite would be asparagus wrapped in buttered bread? Or that kids’ parties would be incomplete without fairy bread? Every good Southlander is practically raised on Southland cheese rolls, and we all know that the pavlova is definitely a Kiwi invention (just don’t ask any Aussies in the room for fear of restarting the ‘Great Pavlova Debate’).

          Whether they’re from the iconic Edmonds Cookery Book or passed down through families there’s bound to be a dish on this quirky stamp sheet that every Kiwi can relate to.

2012 - A Tiki Tour of New Zealand No 2

      
         The Second Tiki Tour of New Zealand showed a lot more colour than the original Tiki Tour in 2009. (2009 - A Tiki Tour of New Zealand) 

         It was a similar format featuring various places around New Zealand in stylised/cartoon type illustrations on a map of New Zealand. Some of the places and scenes had been seen in the first series, but here many were completely new. 

         We have laid out this post with a brief summary of the series taken from the NZ Post web site.  Then we show the actual sheet as it was issued. Below this you will find a set of three First Day Covers. Finally we have laid out all 20 stamps separately with some information about places shown.

2009 - A Tiki Tour of New Zealand. No. 1.

        A Tiki Tour - "In other countries they might call it the ‘roundabout way’ to get somewhere. Or the ‘scenic route’. But in New Zealand it’s a ‘Tiki tour’, and it’s the only way to go. It involves getting from A to B via L&P®." Getting off the beaten track, visiting places, seeing things that would normally be overlooked.

        This stamp issue sets out to show the different sights and activities that can be enjoyed in New Zealand. For such a small country there is much to see; from majestic mountains to flat open plains; from a bustle of modern cities to small country towns; from the roar of an ocean beach to the stillness deep in a forest glade. No matter what interests you, New Zealand has something to offer.

        New Zealand is a sporting nation with rugby being the national sport but many other sports are popular too. You can swim in the ocean then a few hours later ski down a mountain. Fishing, sailing, horse riding and mountain climbing are among the activities shown here. Go whale watching or watch an air show of vintage aircraft. Activities are almost endless but when you have finished what better way to end your day than to relax in the natural hot water of springs such as those found at Hamner Springs or many other hot pools found throughout both main islands. Enjoy some of the best wine in the world with a meal of roast lamb or fish, freshly caught from the sea. The choices are limited only by your imagination. 

       While being a young country, New Zealand still has a rich history. There are the Maori myths and legends such as Maui capturing the sun or the tragic love-story of Pania of the Reef. Timber milling, gold mining and breaking in the land for farming, stories of courage and determination remain of those first Europeans. Almost every town has it own little museum telling the stories of the local area.  

2012 - Tiki Tour of New Zealand No. 2

       So come with me and enjoy out Tiki Tour through New Zealand.

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

1988 Australian Bicentenary

100 Posts in this Blog!!! 

        Hi Anne here. Since I am throwing the party on Saturday night, I've also been given the 100th post for this blog. We will publish this that morning and the blog's milestone will be celebrationed that evening.

         Now in 1988 Australia celebrated its Bicentenary, bi meaning two. One of the ways this was marked was with a joint stamp issue between Australia and New Zealand. This consisted of a single stamp, a First Day Cover, and a special post cancel, issued by each country.

         New Zealand and Australia have shared a long history together. Captain Cook explored New Zealand and the Australian East Coast at about the same time. European settlement was established in Australia in 1788 and not long afterwards Europeans where found in New Zealand too. At first New Zealand was administrated from New South Wales until 1840 when the Treaty of Waitangi established it as a separate colony.
        Over the years the two countries have been close. A friendship has grown between the two nations, almost like brothers, which has remained strong and unbroken.  That friendship was cemented in World War I on the blood-soaked hills of Gallipoli, soldiers relying on each other even unto death.
        New Zealand's gift to Australia to commemorate the bicentenary was a restored 12 metre gaff-rigged cutter, originally built in Auckland to represent New Zealand in the 1888 centennial regatta in Sydney.

50th Post - 1991 Feel Good Stamps.

         For sometime now I have been wondering what I could do for my 50th post in this blog. I have covered some interesting issues over a wide range of topics so I though I needed something a bit different. Then I found these two issues.
         In 1991 NZ Post issued two sets which I am calling "Feel Good Stamps." One was for birthday cards and greetings and carried the words "Happy Birthday" on each stamp. The other for more general greetings carried the words "Thinking of You." They were issued in booklets holding five different 40c stamps.
         So lets have a party!!!

Happy Birthday!

15th May, 1991  Happy Birthday - 40c

2008 The A to Z of New Zealand.

        After looking at Full Faced Queens (last post) what about a bit of a fun issue, a feel good set if you like. It is an A to Z of New Zealand culture, history, heritage and downright kiwiana. Each letter of the alphabet is used to present a different subject of New Zealand.
        Personally I was not too impressed with many of these designs but what captured my interest was the idea of doing a issue of 26 stamps on Kiwiana like this. First I show the set as issued in a single sheet then below that, each stamp will be depicted along with a short description of the its subject.
        There are some other sets like this so I might do a post of some of them too.