2014 Native Seaweed.

On the 7th February, 2014, New Zealand Post issued this set of five value featuring species of native seaweed unique to the waters around New Zealand. Seaweeds are an essential part of the marine ecosystem, providing food, habitats and shelter to a wide variety of marine life. They come in many different shapes and colours as can be seen on the five stamps below.

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.

2013 Ross Dependency Definitives.

          On the 20 November, 2013, The Ross Dependency issues its annual definitive issue. This issue contains five values for use on mail posted at Scott Base and the surrounding area. Of course many of these stamps are never used for mail, instead being sold to collectors all over the world.
          I always look forward to the annual Ross Dependency definitive issue because they are usually colourful, interesting stamps. I have touched on these Ross Dependency stamps a number of times in this blog but one day I plan to put them all together into one big collection.
          The theme for this issue was the Antarctic food web. The five stamps featured five very different creatures who depended on each other in someway for their survival. New Zealand has done and is continuing to study the life in Antarctica and in the Ross Sea. This work highlights just how finely balanced the food chain in this environments is. It is hoped this research will lead to a greater understanding of the Ross Dependency and Ross Sea but also a greater appreciation of the natural balance of the world we live in. 

2013 The Hobbet II

The Desolation of Smaug.

See my complete collection of Lord of the Ring / The Hobbit stamps.

For a collection of all the miniature sheets released with this issue,

view our post 2016 A Journey Through Middle-earth.



         In Dec 2013 the long awaited second movie of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy was released. Created by New Zealand's famous director, Peter Jackson this movie was one of a series of three based on J.R.R. Tolkien's book 'The Hobbit.'
        Set in the same Middle Earth as the Lord of the Rings but some 40 years before, this story tells of the adventures of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.
        In the first movie they survived the beginning of their unexpected journey. This second movie pick up the story as the Company continues East, encountering along the way the skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous Mirkwood Forest. After escaping capture by the dangerous Woodland Elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself. Here they must face the greatest danger of all – a creature more terrifying than any before, which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself – the Dragon Smaug.

2003 Lord of the Rings III

The Return of the King.

See my complete collection of Lord of the Ring / The Hobbit stamps.

For a collection of all the miniature sheets released with this issue,

view our post: - 2016 A Journey Through Middle-earth.



         The third and final movie was released in December 2003. It had been a massive effort filming and producing three great movies like that. Peter Jackson, with his team, had done an amazing job. He was looked upon as a hero in this small country of New Zealand.       
          The films showed the world what New Zealand was capable of doing. They also promoted the country by displaying some of our beautiful scenery and attracting tourists to come here. In 2017, the movie set Hobbiton, is still a major tourist attraction.

2002 Lord of the Rings II

The Two Towers.

See my complete collection of Lord of the Ring / The Hobbit stamps.

For a collection of all the miniature sheets released with this issue,

view our post: - 2016 A Journey Through Middle-earth.

       

        Almost exactly one year after the release of Fellowship of the Ring, the first Lord of the Rings movie, Peter Jackson released the second of J.R.R. Tolkien trilogy, The Two Towers. NZ Post marked the release of this movie with the second issue of six stamps along with six miniature sheets. I have included both the stamps and the sheets in this post. It is too much to write about the whole movie so I will just give some background on the scenes shown on the stamps. Want to know more, go watch the movie.

2001 Lord of the Rings I

The Fellowship of the Ring.

See my complete collection of Lord of the Ring / The Hobbit stamps.

For a collection of all the miniature sheets released with this issue,

view our post: - 2016 A Journey Through Middle-earth.

         When New Zealand producer Peter Jackson took on making a movie of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings many in the film industry were amazed. It had always been considered that a film of this story would be impossible to make. What Peter Jackson proposed to do was to create three movies, one of each book of the trilogy, all filmed at the same time, then made into movies over three years. Truly a massive and impossible task but it was done. Making full use of camera tricks, special effects and advanced computer animation, the series of three movies began to come together. Finally, at the end of 2001 the first movie, The Fellowship of the Ring was ready for release.   

2010 ANZAC III - Remembrance

        The theme of the 2010 ANZAC issue took on a more modern theme by looking at some of the activities of the modern ANZAC Day to see how New Zealanders today remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. This was done by looking at six ANZAC Day scenes from 1932 to 2010. Especially featured are services which have taken place overseas. 

                                         

Great Barrier Pigeon Post.

        Great Barrier Island is the largest island in the Hauraki Gulf, laying only 65 miles (105Km) from Auckland City. The island can be seen from Auckland on a clear day, it is that close, but back in the 1800s, it was isolated with no communication other than by sea with an irregular ship service. When in 1894, the Northern Steamship Company's ship SS Wairarapa hit the northern end of the island with the loss of 121 lives, the news took several days to reach Auckland. It highlighted the need for better communication between the island and the mainland. See our post Wreck of the Wairarapa.

       The Great Barrier Pigeongram Agency was created in early 1897 with a purpose of providing a mail service using pigeons. The letters carried, known as flimsies, were written on extremely lightweight paper. A few months later, on 14th May 1897, a rival pigeon mail service was established under the name of The Original Great Barrier Pigeongram Service. The two companies, commonly known as the 'Agency' and the 'Service', would continue competing with each other until 1908 when a telephone cable was laid between the island and the mainland. 

2009 ANZAC II - Comrades in Arms.

        
        2009 saw the issue of the second yearly ANZAC issue by New Zealand Post. This issue showed scenes from each of the major wars New Zealand has been involved in. The theme of Comrades in Arms was shown in pictures of men facing and hardships and dangers of war together.

        The first stamp shows a typical ANZAC Day scene where soldiers carry the coffin of the Unknown Warrior so those who died, but whose bodies were never recovered or identified, are remembered. To many whose loved one was never found this is one of the few links they have.

       The format followed the 2008 issue by showing a sepia photo with the silver writing and red poppy. The words "Lest we forget" were also included too. I actually like this design better because the words "Lest we forget" were very hard to see in the 2009 ANZAC issue.

2008 ANZAC I Stories of Nationhood.

         In 2008 New Zealand began what has become a regular issue on a military theme for ANZAC Day. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the combined army group which had hastily be put together by the two countries and sent to join the fighting in World War I. The first action was the ill-fated landing at what is now known as ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli.

        Both countries now remember this landing, in which many brave young men lost their lives, by putting aside the 25th of April each year to hold special parades and services. The day is also remembered by the wearing of a red poppy, as can be scene on each the stamps below.

        There have been other military sets issued before this one for ANZAC and for special military anniversaries but this issue is different in that it was to become the start of a yearly issue for ANZAC. Over the years younger people, people who had been born many years after the two world wars, have begun attending these services in ever greater numbers. So as the ranks of a veterans have thinned with the now old men passing away the crowds of young people have increased. New Zealand Post now recognises this with a regular ANZAC issue.

        The stamps are a simple, yet effective design, with a background picture in sepia, a red poppy and writing and the silver fern in silver. Each stamp also carries that famous slogan of ANZAC Day "Lest we forget."     

(To see my entire Military / Anzac collection, click on either link in the page bar above.)

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

1970s Vintage Transport Series.

       During the mid-1970s New Zealand issued a yearly set of stamps featuring vintage transport. I think it might be better if we view these sets in one group rather than individual issues.  I have combined these issues to make an interesting series of 30 stamps depicting the development of early transport in New Zealand. Maybe one day I might return to view each issue in greater detail.

   

See the 1984 - 1986 Vintage Transport Issues.

1855 Full Faced Queens - Part Four.

Definitives Tour.  

Forward to 1973 Newspaper Stamp.

Links:- Full-Faced Queens.
          1855 Full-Faced Queens - Part One.
                    A basic introduction to the Full Faced Queens issues. 
          1855 Full-Faced Queens - Part Two.
                    Looking at factors effecting the condition and value of Classic Stamps. 
          1855 Full-Faced Queens - Part Three.
                    A collection of covers from before and using Full Faced Queen stamps. 
          1855 Full-Faced Queens - Part Four.
                    Modern use of the Full Faced Queen design.

        This is the last post in my series on Full-Faced Queens, New Zealand's first postal stamp issue.
        Over the years the Full-Face Queen design has been reused a number of times as New Zealand has marked various anniversaries since their first issue. They have appeared, either as copies of the original stamps or with the design updated with more modern content.

1955 Centennial of Postage Stamps in New Zealand.
        There were three stamps in this issue but we are only interested in the 4d value in this post.  In this case the original design was updated with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II instead of Queen Victoria. Since New Zealand was still using the old Sterling currency the value could still be written as "THREE PENCE" rather than the more common 3d.

Queen Elizabeth II - 3d

For the other stamps in this issue see my posts

1955 Stamp Centenary. 

2005 - 150 Years of New Zealand Stamps.

1985 - 93 Native Birds Definitives.

Definitives Tour.

Back to 1982 - 1985 Definitives.                              Forward to 1991 Butterfly Definitives.

         The Native Bird definitives issued during the late 1980s and early 1990s proves to be a confusing issue to lay out in an album or catalogue because it was issued over eight years on eleven different issue dates. Most dealers seem to place them in two sets with some extras after that but I've decided to lay them out as they were issued. This actually turned into an interesting exercise finding these dates then placing the stamps accordingly. 

         I have been unable to get a clear explanation as to why this set was issued in stages. The best reason I can think is that they were released as stocks of the older definitive series ran out.  
         Since this was one of our very early posts, in October 2017 we returned to this page to bring it up to the standard of our more recent posts. Descriptions were added for each bird and First Day Covers were added for each issue. During this process, we discovered we had missed a couple of issues which were also added.  

24th April 1985.

                               

    Kokako (Callaeas cinerea) - $1.00.                                  Black Robin (Petroica Traversi) - $2.

The first two values to be issued were the $1 and $2. These featured two rarer birds on a larger format stamp. 

(See the PhilexFrance '89 Miniature Sheet further down in 1989 which features colour separations of the $2 stamp.)

2013 Christmas

The 2013 Christmas Issue features activities which people in New Zealand would normally do on Christmas Day. In New Zealand Christmas falls in our summer season so while those in the Northern Hemisphere might make a snowman or enjoying winter things, here in New Zealand we're off to the beach for a swim and picnic.

     70c Gift giving.                             $1.40 Christmas lunch.

2008 The Chronicles of Narnia II

 Prince Caspian.

       The second movie of the Chronicles of Narnia was Prince Caspian, another of the brilliant stories by CE Lewis. NZ Post released this issue of four values, again showing key scenes from the movie.

        Stamp issues on movies filmed in New Zealand have become popular with both stamp collectors and movie buffs. This issue prove no exception.

 

50c – The Pevensies.

 A year has passed since the amazing events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the four Pevensie children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, are back living in London. Their lives change in an instant when they are catapulted from an English railway station back to Narnia, where their help is desperately needed by a prince in trouble.

The picture on the 50c value shows the four children, back in Narnia, playing in the water.

2005 The Chronicles of Narnia I

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

        This movie is based on the second book of The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. I don't know why they didn't start with the first book telling of how Narnia was created by Aslan the Lion. Anyway the movie vividly brings to life this popular children's story using stunning graphics and visual effects.
        The story opens as World War II brings the carnage and terror of the Blitz to London. The four Pevensie children - Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy - are sent away to stay with Professor Kirke in his ancient mansion. It is a strange house fill of many apparently unused rooms. It one stand this wardrobe by itself.





                       Lucy and the Wardrobe - 45c

         In a game of hide-and-seek Lucy decides to duck into what looks like an old wardrobe, only it turns out to be a doorway to the strange and mysterious world of Narnia. She meets the faun Mr. Tumnus, who takes her to his house and tells her more about this extraordinary yet dangerous place ruled by the cruel White Witch. Narnia is under her spell and locked in an endless winter.

2012 75 Years of the RNZAF

        In 2012 the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) celebrated 75 years since it was formed in 1937. NZ Post used its annual military issue to mark this important milestone with a set of 15 stamps. They were issued as a miniature sheet with each stamp have a postal value of 60c, giving the whole sheet a face value of $9.00.
        Below the sheet, I give further details about the subjects depicted on each stamp.

International Yachting.

       With the America's Cup races on at the moment I thought it might be an idea to go back and find if we can trace how New Zealand came to be competing with the USA for the cup. This blog is the story of New Zealand International Yacht Racing.


       New Zealand has had a long history of yacht racing. These two Health Stamps below show the sport of yachting and yacht racing, popular with both adults and children. Many people started as children in yachting classes such as the P-Class, then as they grew older progressed on to larger classes until they found themselves in what we call the blue water classes. These are the ocean going yachts and international competitions. 
       This has led to New Zealand being known all over the world for both the quality of its yachtsmen and for the quality of its boats. So wherever you find a international yacht race you are most likely to find a New Zealander in the middle of it. 

 Our Yachting Heritage.     

 

1946 - The Soldier (Yachts in the Background)

1951 - Yachting The popular Takapuna Class, training ground for many young yachtsmen.

1949 - 1952 Cancelled Royal Visits.

1953 Royal Visit.

The 2001 Royal Visits Issue.

2013 Upper Hutt National Stamp Show

         The Upper Hutt Stamp Club is celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2013 with a national stamp show and to commemorate New Zealand Post is issuing an exhibition miniature sheet and exhibition souvenir cover. The issue date is the 13th September to mark the opening of the exhibition. 
         As much as I dislike miniature sheets designed for specific exhibitions I do realise NZ Post needs the opportunity for marketing and sales of their philatelic products. In the light of this, I will therefore continue feature these special issues on my blog.

         The miniature sheet shows a view of Upper Hutt looking across the Hutt River. The two stamps featured on the sheet came from 2013 New Zealand Native Ferns, issued on the 7th February. In the first design ($2.40) the Umbrella Fern is shown with its distinctive fronds like the ribs of an umbrella. The second design ($2.90) shows the Silver Fern with fronds of beautiful green as shown which have bright silver on their under sides. Both stamps show the juvenile frond in the form of that spiral pattern known in New Zealand as the koru. 

        The special cover above, shows more of the photo shown on the miniature. Notice the special post mark with a native wood pigeon designed for this issue. Both the miniature sheet and the cover show the logo designed by the Upper Hutt Stamp Club for their exhibition.

        For those who are interested, Upper Hutt 2013 will be held from 13 to 15 September at the Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt. Located 30 kilometres north-east of Wellington city, Upper Hutt boasts 70 per cent of the region’s parks and reserves, and this is the first time the city has hosted a national stamp show.

2011 The Victoria Cross

         
The Victoria Cross is a bronze cross 41 mm high and 36 mm wide, bearing the Crown of Saint Edward surmounted by a lion. The cross was originally intended to be the Maltese Cross with the inscription "For the Brave" but this was changed to "For Valour" by Queen Victoria who thought the former wording might imply not all the men in battle were brave.
          The ribbon, described as crimson or wine red, is 38mm wide and passes through the bar from which the medal hangs. The bar in engraved with ornamental laurel leaves.
          On the reverse the bar is engraved with the recipient's name, rank, number and unit. On the reverse of the cross is a circular panel on which the date of the act  for which it was awarded is engraved in the centre. See the example of the VC awarded to Edward Holland on the right.

2013 Health Issue.

Forward to 2014 Health Issue.

  
        Thousands of New Zealand children grow up on farms and in the country, and the 2013 Children's Health stamp issue celebrates the unique ways of life of these children and their pets. I can relate to this since I grew up on a small farm, actually the one I own today. You will find a picture of us kids with our pets at the bottom of this post. We also had the usual dogs, cats, lambs, pigs, even gecko lizard which would be illegal today. Ringo, my pet gecko actually turned out to be a female when she had babies. LOL. 
          On 18 April 2013, Te Puna Whaiora Children’s Health Camps launched its new name, Stand Children’s Services, Tu Maia Whanau. Stand Children’s Services aims to nurture the dreams and aspirations of our nation’s children, allowing them to find their turangawaewae, their 'place to stand’

For our full Health Stamp Collection use the links in the page bar above.
To see this issue in our collect 2013 Health.



               

70c +10c - Lamb.                              $1.40 + 10c - Piglet.

2013 Coastal Lighthouses.

         Yesterday, 4th September, NZ Post issued this set of five stamps showing coastal scenes from around New Zealand. They called this issue New Zealand Coastlines but I like the title I gave this post above is better since each stamp shows a New Zealand lighthouse.
        New Zealand consists of two major islands and numinous smaller ones. The country has a long winding coastline with many areas dangerous for shipping. Most of these places are protected by lights which warn of the dangers. Once these lights were manned by keepers who lived with their families in this isolated locations but now most lights around New Zealand are automatic, just requiring servicing on a regular basis. 
         Most of these lighthouses have appeared at least once in other stamps issued by New Zealand so I have decided that at some point I will create a collection of all the stamps featuring lighthouses.

70c - Castlepoint.

Castlepoint on Wairarapa coast, named by Captain Cook who thought it resembled a castle. This is the only one of these lighthouse that I have actually visited.