1997 Fly Fishing.

Brown Trout.

Once we took an overseas visitor trout fishing in a stream near Rotorua. We tried a couple of places and didn't have much luck. My friend decided to teach our visitor how to fly fish and was showing him how to caste and draw the fly back across the water's surface. His second cast he got one. Can you believe it? All the luck! Well, in the excitement, he slipped on some rocks and almost ended up in the water with the trout much to the amusement of us sitting watching. But eventually, the two of them managed to save our visitor, the rod and his trout. So that evening we had a large Brown Trout, wrapped in tin foil and cooked on the barbeque. Lovely!

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.

2018 New Zealand Cycle Trails

         The global financial crisis in 2008 hit New Zealand hard, so much so that the government held an emergency jobs summit. Politicians and businesspeople were pulled together to come up with plans and schemes that would create jobs and boost the economy. One of the more successful ventures was a strategy to build cycle trails all around New Zealand. Not only would this produce jobs for then and in the future, it would also give Kiwis a great way to see all that New Zealand had to offer.

         The New Zealand Cycle Trail incorporates 22 great rides through some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking landscapes. From restored heritage trails, epic swing bridges and curious wildlife to luxury accommodation and good food, the cycle trail offers something for everyone. Many of the trails can be broken up and done across multiple days, or even just tackled a section at a time if you’re after a day trip. The difficulty of each trail varies with the location and terrain; some roll with the landscape while others follow pre-forged paths that were once railway lines or horse tracks. Regardless of the style of trail, difficulty level or length of the journey, you’ll experience New Zealand’s landscape in a unique way.

         In early 2018 NZ Post issued this set of six stamps featuring six of the best of these cycle trails. The portrait format they chose is ideal for displaying some of the beautiful scenery found on these trials. Of course, there was also the usual First Day Covers and Miniature Sheet. There was also a presentation Pack including all three of the collector items above plus lots more information regarding each track. 

1994 Scenic Stamps.

The 1994 Scenic Issue of four stamps features the four seasons with each stamp showing a different scene in a different season. In a country like New Zealand, surrounded by oceans, it is often hard to define exactly when one season changes into another. I've known beautiful sunny weather in June and July which is said to be winter then starting the fire on Christmas Day in the middle of summer.
This is an interesting theme combined with an unusual design format to create what I think is one of the better scenic stamp issues.

1987 - 1989 Scenic Stamps.

         In this post we have decided to combine three stamp issues on to one page. Although all three sets differ from each other in subject and appearance, they are all part of the Scenic Stamps Series. What I did find interesting is how all three issues have miniature sheets where the design of one stamp appears as part of a bigger illustrations.
        You can view all the stamps from this series in our collection Scenic Stamps Series - Part One.

1987 National Parks.
         The 1987 Scenic Issue commemorated the centennial of the National Parks movement in New Zealand. In 1887, Te Heuheu Tukino IV, paramount chief of the Ngati Tuwharetoa with the consent of many other chiefs, gifted to the people of New Zealand the tribally-owned land within a radius of one mile of the three volcanic peaks of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu.  The land was given on the understanding that it would be kept sacred under the protection of Queen Victoria and on the condition that it would be preserved as a national park.  Originally 2630 hectares in area, today the park has grown to almost 80,000 hectares. 
        Tongariro National Park remained the only national park until the turn of the century when the Egmont National Park was established in October 1900.
        This issue shows four of our more famous National Parks. Two of these were also featured in our post 2015 - UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

          

70c - Urewera National Park.

80c - Mount Cook National Park.

1985 - 1986 Scenic Stamps.

1985 Scenic Stamps - Bridges.

See the full collection Scenic Stamps Series - Part One.
The landscape of New Zealand means there are many rivers and other obstacles that needed to be crossed by both roads and railways. The 1985 Scenic Issue shows just four of these many hundreds of bridges. What can be seen in these four stamps are examples of technology and variety of designs found in New Zealand's bridges.  

   

35c - Shotover bridge.                         40c - Alexandra Bridge. 

1983 - 1984 Scenic Stamps.

 This is the next post of our scenic New Zealand series. This time we view the issues of 1983 and 1984. The 1984 issue marks a bit of a change for this series, in fact I almost didn't include it in our scenic stamps collection. Where all the issues up until here has shown actual views of New Zealand this issue moved to drawings of scenic areas. I'm not sure how well this fits but since most catalogues seem to place the 1984 in the scenic series we've chosen to do the same.

1983 Scenic Stamps - Beautiful New Zealand.

See the full collection Scenic Stamps Series - Part One.

      

35c - Mt Egmont / Taranaki.                                     40c - Cooks Bay.

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.

1976 - 1977 Scenic Stamps

1976 - Scenic Stamps - Waterfalls.
See the full collection Scenic Stamps Series - Part One. 

          Four of New Zealand's most beautiful waterfalls are featured in this series of stamps. As depicted on the stamps, each is different in character, sinuous delicate tiers of Purakaunui in the far South Island, contrast with Marakopa in the North Island - a crashing curtain of water.

                   

               10c - Purakaunui Falls.                             14c - Marakopa (Marokopa) Waterfall.

2015 - UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

         New Zealand is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand, Tongariro National Park, and the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands. Tongariro National Park is located in the central North Island, Te Wahipounamu is located in the south-west of the South Island and the Sub-Antarctic Islands are found south of the South Island.

         This special stamp issue showcases these scenic locations in all their glory. Six colourful stamps, two of each area combine to make this one of the better stamp issues New Zealand has released.

         I have chosen to use extra large images to display the full beauty of these stamps then lower down smaller images accompany more detailed captions on the views shown. I know our blog owner Allan, is against using such large images but I feel they are needed here.

1974 - 1975 Scenic Stamps

1974 - Scenic Stamps - Offshore Islands.

See the full collection - Scenic Stamps Series - Part One. 

Following on with the scenic theme of this series, in 1974 four offshore islands were featured. Once again I good variety were selected from the larger Great Barrier Island and Stewart Island to the active volcano White Island. The final stamp was the tiny Brothers Islands from Cook Strait.  

Notes on this page were based on notes from the NZ Post Web Site.

                  

1972 - 1973 Scenic Stamps.

1972 Scenic Stamps - Lakes.

See the full collection Scenic Stamps Series - Part One.
The first issue of what was to become the annual Scenic Stamp Issue appeared in 1972. This was a four value set depicting Scenic Lakes. 

                                    

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. 

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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.

1935 Pictorials

Definitive Tour.

Back to George V Definitives.                               Forward to George VI Definitives.

The 1935 Pictorial Issue.

         By 1931 several of the plates for the King George V definitive stamps were noticeably worn. Given that the design of the 1926 Admirals issue had been severely criticised, the authorities decided to try the same approach which had worked so well in 1898 - a design competition for a new set of pictorial stamps.

         Entries were divided into New Zealand subject groups: fauna, scenery, Maori art, agricultural, history and sport, then examples were chosen for the stamps being issued. Over 1,500 entries were received and designs from eleven contributors were included in the final set. Some unsuccessful entries can be seen at the bottom of this post.

         The stamps suffered a series of delays though - printing by photogravure was abandoned in favour of line etching with the exception of the ninepenny stamp which was the first New Zealand stamp printed by offset lithography. There were also issues with paper quality and the shilling stamp design was changed again just before issue. Finally, in 1935 the set was ready to be issued.

1898 New Zealand's First Variety. (Error)

       Is this an error or a variety?

       New Zealand's best-known stamp error - the name of the lake was misspelt with an ‘i’ (Wakitipu)  instead of an ‘a’ (Wakatipu.) It caused considerable interest when issued and further printings were made to satisfy the purely philatelic and speculative demand. The consequence was that in its mint form, the error is more common than the correct spelling. Most of those who bought the stamp retained them unused and genuinely used copies are not common. You can see a used copy on the cover further down but it is in very poor condition.

See our post on the 1898 Pictorial Issue.

   

1898 2½d - Lake Wakitipu/Wakatipu error.

The error is on the left and the correct spelling on the right. 

1898 The First Pictorial Issue.

Definitive Tour.

Back to Sideface Issues.                          Forward to Universal / Dominion.

       This fascinating stamp issue holds a special interest for stamp collectors as it was among the world's earliest pictorial definitive issues. The issue followed the lead of New South Wales where a similar pictorial issue had just been released. 

        The decision to break away from featuring stamps with Queen Victoria's portrait was a bold one and not without some risk of offending public opinion. A design competition was held that attracted over 2,400 entries. The selection criteria - 'to include a representation of characteristic or notable New Zealand scenery in the design and a stamp issue symbolic of the land.'

           The quality of the winning designs was so great that a decision was made to print the issue using the more expensive recess printing method, with the anticipation that costs would be covered many times over by sales to stamp collectors. The stamps were engraved in England along with initial printings and subsequently printed in New Zealand from new plates supplied from England. The issue featured the same denominations as the Second Side-faces with a new 9d stamp added for overseas parcels, and two and five shilling stamps added for parcels, fiscals and telegrams.

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.