Kurangaituku - The Bird Woman.

For an index to all our posts on The Maori People.

        As I explore the legends and myths of the New Zealand Maori people one story seems to connect to the next. When Mary was doing her post on the 1958 Anniversaries she came across the stamps issued for the Hawke's Bay Centennial. Among these was a stamp showing the statue Pania of the Reef which led me to do a post telling this story. In the comments below that post, the story of Hinemoa was mentioned.

        Recently I added the love-story of Hinemoa to my growing collection of posts on Maori stories. While researching this story I discovered Hinemoa swum to the Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua. This led me to discover another story connected to this island, Hatupatu and Kurangaituku - The Bird Woman, the subject of this post.   

Kurangaituku - 80c
The giant bird-women who stalked prey in the forest, standing tall as a tree

and spearing birds and lizards with her fingernails.

Stamp from 2000 Spirits and Guardians.

1960 Westland

        Following the example of many other provinces of New Zealand this commemorative set of three stamps was issued to mark the Centenary of Westland. The stamps recognised the first explorers, miners and women of the region.

          The first Europeans to visit the West Coast were Brunner and Heaphy, whose exploration began in 1846.  Until 1856 the only European visitors to the Coast seem to have been sealers from Foveaux Strait and shore whalers operating from the Jackson Bay area.

1980 Anniversaries



 The 1980 Anniversaries Issue consisted of six stamps. Three were celebrating the 125th anniversary of stamps in New Zealand and the rest celebrated three other anniversaries. There was also a miniature sheet issued at the same time, featuring the three Chalon Stamps. The first stamp issue, the Full-faced Queens is also know as Chalon Stamps.

The three stamps commemorating the 125th anniversary of the first New Zealand stamp issue were designed by D A Hatcher, these stamps were also incorporated into a special miniature sheet which he also designed.  The remaining three stamps, designed by R M Conly, commemorated the Centenary of Rotorua and the International Orchid Conference and the World Ploughing Championships which were both held in New Zealand in 1980.

Further down we have included a small collection of flaws and printing errors from these stamps.

2012 - Great Voyages of New Zealand

As a small nation surrounded by water, New Zealand has relied on ships and vessels as a means of transport for as long as it's been inhabited. The 'Great Voyages of New Zealand' stamp issue features five vessels that have played a part in shaping New Zealand.

New Zealand Maori

New Zealand Maori.

         Asami here: - Allan has requested a special index page for posts about or relating to the Maori people of New Zealand. This is a very vast and complex area of study so I've decided to lay the page out in a series of sub-indexes with a table of context at the top.

Index / Contents

                 Maori - Traditional History.

                              Creation Stories.

                              Coming of Maori to Aotearoa (New Zealand.)

                              First Meetings with Europeans.
                              The Treaty of Waitangi.

                 Maori - Heritage.

                              Maori Cultural Heritage.

                              Matariki - Maori New Year.

                              Maori Legends.

                 Famous Maori on Stamps.   (On separate page.)

                              Famous Maori on Stamps.

                              Maori Artists - Artwork on Stamps.
                              Maori Writer/Designers on Stamps.

                       Definitive Stamps with Maori Themes.   (On separate page.)

                 A Complete Index of Maori Themed Stamps.
                                                 (A future project still to be published.)

                The Moriori People.

                              Moriori History & Culture.

The Legend of Hinemoa,

For an index to all our posts on The Maori People.

Rotorua’s famous romance, based on a true story of forbidden love between a high ranking young maiden and Tutanekai - illegitimately born of an illicit affair.  Mokoia Island is historical location of their union and is still cherished and celebrated today.



Hinemoa and Tutanekai beside the pool of warm water Waikimhia, 

now also known as Hinemoa's Pool.  

                    
             40c - Hinemoa.                                          The Original Promotional Image.       

                                             

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.

2011 - Ross Dependency - Race to the Pole.

 This issue marks the Centenary of the first successful attempt to reach the South Pole. Over the summer season of 1911/12 two men were attempting to be the first to reach the pole.  One was an Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, and the other a British explorer, Robert Scott.  The stamps of this issue, remember and celebrate both men and their teams. 

The miniature sheet titled "The Race to the Pole" including the five stamps of this issue.

Happy Birthday! Penny Black!

             The world's first adhesive postage stamp was introduced 175 years ago, on May 1st 1840, as part of Sir Rowland Hill's postal reforms which paved the way to the modern postal system.
            This was the stamp that started it all so when I saw the date I decided we had to do something about it in this blog. Asami suggested getting the fireworks out but I don't think we need go that far. Just to acknowledge the occasion will be enough. 

2012 Fifty Years of Friendship - New Zealand and Samoa

         New Zealand and Samoa share a special relationship that is underpinned by the 1962 Treaty of Friendship. 2012 marks 50 years of this important partnership, and New Zealand Post celebrated this with very a unique stamp issue. At about the same time these stamps were issued Samoa celebrated 50 years of independence. The stamps issued by Samoa to mark this event can also be seen at the bottom of this post.

An interesting set of five stamps that stand out as being very different to stamps usually issued by New Zealand. Each of the five stamps features a contemporary view of a selu tuiga – a head comb that takes the shape of a traditional tuiga. A tuiga is a Samoan headdress that is worn at important events by the mānaia (son) or the taupou (daughter) of the high chief of the village. The tuiga is a unique symbol of the chiefly nature of Samoan society, and a significant number of tuiga were worn when Samoa gained independence.

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.

1958 & 1998 - Pania of the Reef.

For an index to all our posts on The Maori People.

This post was inspired by something in the post Mary has just completed 1958 Anniversaries. In the Hawke's Bay Centennial issue is a stamp 2d - Pania of the Reef. This statue caught my interest as I remembered seeing it in the 1998 Town Icons issue too. (Both stamps are shown below). So in looking deeper I discovered the story of Pania of the Reef; a Maori legend or myth, a romantic yet tragic love-story, and a beautiful bronze statue.  

The Stamps.

                                 

1958 Hawke's Bay Centennial.                                       1998 Town Icons - Napier, NZ.

Pania can be found on other New Zealand stamps but in the two shown

above she take centre place as the main subject of the stamp.
For more about the heitiki she is wearing see story below or visit our post Heitiki

1958 Anniversaries.

1958 First Trans-Tasman Flight 30th Anniversary

- Kingsford Smith.

                                 

6d New Zealand.                                                            8d Australia.

 This stamp was issued to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's first Trans-Tasman flight with Charles T.P. Ulm as co pilot. The stamp was issued jointly by Australia and New Zealand (both shown here). The stamp featured the Southern Cross with the portrait of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his aircraft, also called Southern Cross.

Simpson and his Donkey.

This post was inspired by one of the stamps from 2015 - The Spirit of ANZAC - 1915.

         On the 25th of April, 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops saw action for the first time in World War I.  The aim of the campaign was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) and eliminated both of Germany's Balkan allies (Turkey and Bulgaria) from the war. 

         This poorly planned landing went wrong from the start. Instead of landing on the chosen beach the Australian and New Zealanders landed further north on a narrow beach surrounded by steep hills. For six months they held this beach, making little headway inland against fierce resistance from the Turkish soldiers. Finally the decision had to be made to pull the troops back off the beach.

2015 New Zealand Native Shells

New Zealand’s diversity of seashell fauna can be attributed to our isolation and geological history, allowing for over 2000 native seashell species to thrive in our waters. I was amazed to learn that there were as many as that. In this issue we see five of these species found only in New Zealand, ranging from the common silver paua to the prized deep-water golden volute.

                             

    80c - Silver Paua.                                    $1.40 - Scott’s Murex.                              $2.00 - Golden volute.

                

    $2.50 - Fan shell.                                 $3.00 - Opal top shell.

1894 The Wreck of the SS Wairarapa.

         In the third worst shipwreck ever in New Zealand waters, 121 lives were lost when the Union Steam Ship Company steamer SS Wairarapa struck Miners Head, on the northern tip of Great Barrier Island, 90 km north-east of Auckland. As the island’s only contact with the outside world was via a weekly steamer, news of the shipwreck took three days to reach Auckland. This highlighted the need for better communication between the island and the mainland. A need that would eventually lead to the Great Barrier Pigeongram Services.

1936 - 1965 - Early ANZAC Issues.

          On the 25th of April, 1915, New Zealand troops saw action for the first time in World War I.  The aim of the campaign was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul).  The goal was to eliminated both of Germany's Balkan allies (Turkey and Bulgaria) from the war, and relieved the Russians from the heavy German pressure they were facing. 
         The poorly planned landing went wrong from the start. Instead of landing on the chosen beach the Australian and New Zealanders landed further north on a narrow beach surrounded by steep hills. For six months they held this beach, making little headway inland against fierce resistance from the Turkish soldiers. Finally the decision had to be made to pull the troops back off the beach.
        This heroic but disastrous campaign left 2,721 New Zealanders dead and 4,752 wounded which was a big hit for such a small country. Over the years much criticism has been made of the British leaders who planned this attack. It would eventually lead to the New Zealand and Australian military becoming more independent from Britain.  
        The campaign became a symbol of New Zealand (and Australia's) war losses. The 25th of April is observed in both countries as ANZAC Day - to remember those countries men and women whose lives were lost in war. 'ANZAC' is an acronym made up of the initials of the 'Australian and New Zealand Army Corps'.
 

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.   

1955 Stamp Centenary

      This set has already been shown on this blog, in our post - 2005 - 150 Years of New Zealand Stamps, but considering the importance of this issue to the history of New Zealand Stamps, we felt it deserved its own page. I believe the clever way these three stamps were designed is often overlooked by collectors in their search for more attractive and exciting stamps. I hope this page below might go some way to correcting this.

         This 1955 issue featured the three values shown above. While appearing to be simple designs, I will show you below that some thought has gone into them, cleverly linking the stamps and postal system of 1855, with the stamps and postal system of 1955.  
        Designs of three of the most famous designers of New Zealand stamps were selected. R M Conly's design depicting a Maori Mail Runner was used for the 2d stamp, J Berry's design depicting Queen Elizabeth II in a style similar to that of the first New Zealand stamps was selected for the 3d stamp and A G Mitchell's design depicting an aircraft in flight appeared on the 4d stamp. Three famous designers, another claim to fame for this often under-rated stamp issue.

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.

1956 Southland Centennial

          With the town of Invercargill being surveyed and laid out in 1856 it was agreed that Southland's Centennial was to be celebrated in January 1956, although smaller settlements at Riverton, Bluff and on Stewart Island existed before that year.
          Three stamps were issued to commemorate the event, depicting whaling, and farming scenes plus the rare bird - the takahe.  A competition was held to select the stamp designs, with the end result being that the 2d design was completed by E R Leeming, the 3d by L C Mitchell and the 8d by M R Smith.

         In selecting the designs via a contest I believe the opportunity was lost to create a issue of similar designs. To me the 8d always stands out as being different to the other two values.

Whaling - 2d.

1950 Canterbury Centennial

        On 17 August 1840 French settlers landed at Akaroa and founded the first town.  A few years later farms at Purau, Riccarton, and Pigeon Bay were established and it was from here the establishment and extension of the province grew. The first settlers chosen by the Canterbury Association (formed in England) disembarked from the first four immigrant ships - 'Charlotte Jane', 'Sir John Seymour', 'Cressy' and 'Randolph', at Lyttelton in December 1850 and this date is recognised as that of the official founding of Canterbury.  John Robert Godley had been placed in charge of the first colonists.  These pioneers who chose to settle at Christchurch had to make a laborious trek over the hills separating Lyttelton and Christchurch by way of a rough track, which became known as the Bridle Path.
         This five value stamp issue by three well-known stamp designers sets out to remember those early times and the people who made Canterbury and Christchurch what they are today. 

Christchurch Cathedral - 1d.

1948 Otago Centennial

          In 1948, the settlement of the Otago Province and the founding of the city of Dunedin on 23 March 1848 were commemorated by four stamps depicting the arrival of the immigrant ships, the town of Cromwell, the First Dunedin Church and the University of Otago. The stamps are classic James Berry designs, being full of fine detail. The 1d is famous for its colour shifts of the blue centre, examples of which can been seen below.

2015 ANZAC Joint Issue.

         New Zealand Post partnered with Australia Post to mark 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign with a joint stamp and coin issue commemorates the relationship New Zealand and Australia share under the banner of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).  100 hundred years later the two countries join together to remember the New Zealand and Australian men who fought together on the beach and on the hills at Gallipoli.

                       

80c - ANZAC Joint Issue.                            $2 - ANZAC Joint Issue. 

(New Zealand)                                               (New Zealand)

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.