2003 Ross Dependency Marine Life

        

Dive beneath the thick expanse of ice covering the continent of Antarctica, and you'll be amazed at the abundance and variety of colourful marine life that lives in this cold, forbidding environment. Sea snails, starfish, crabs, sponges and many more eke out a meagre existence many hundreds of metres below sea level - far from the inquisitive eyes of the world's scientists and researchers, eager to learn more about them.

1984 Endangered Wildlife

          From the days when New Zealand was first settled, it has lost proportionately more living species than any other nation in the world.  Our pioneers had no idea of the damage they were causing as they cleared the land - today however there are no excuses.
          Much of New Zealand's unique beautiful wildlife has gone.  Numbers decrease as hunting, disease and habitat destruction continue.  Legislation for the protection of New Zealand fauna is good by world standards, although it does not extend to a threatened species' habitat.
         Several of New Zealand's fascinating reptiles and a rare amphibian are featured on this special stamp issue.  The five stamps depict the rare Hamilton's Frog; Great Barrier Skink; Harlequin Gecko; Otago Skink; and the Gold-striped Gecko.

24c - Hamilton's Frog.

Hamilton's Frog - one of three species of native New Zealand frogs and regarded as being among the rarest amphibians in the world.  It is considered an unusual frog because it lives under stones and well away from standing water, depending on high humidity for its entire life cycle.

2002 Ross Dependency Discovery Expedition

         The British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901–04, generally known as the Discovery Expedition, was the first official British exploration of the Antarctic regions since James Clark Ross's voyage sixty years earlier. Organised on a large scale under a joint committee of the Royal Society and the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), the new expedition carried out scientific research and geographical exploration in what was then largely an untouched continent.
          It launched the Antarctic careers of many who would become leading figures in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, including Robert Falcon Scott who led the expedition, Ernest Shackleton, Edward Wilson, Frank Wild, Tom Crean and William Lashly.
         Its scientific results covered extensive ground in biology, zoology, geology, meteorology and magnetism. The expedition discovered the existence of the only snow-free Antarctic valleys, which contain Antarctica's longest river. Further achievements included the discoveries of the Cape Crozier emperor penguin colony, King Edward VII Land, and the Polar Plateau (via the western mountains route) on which the South Pole is located. The expedition tried to reach the South Pole travelling as far as the Farthest South mark at a reported 82°17′S before being forced to turn back.

2001 Ross Dependency Penguins

         The 2001 Ross Dependency stamps, issued on the 7th November 2001, featured penguins found in the Ross Dependency area. On the same day New Zealand also issued a set of six stamps, also featuring penguins, 2001 Penguins. but this time penguins from around New Zealand. There have been occasions when these two sets have been confused but it must be remembered that they are independent of one another, released by two different postal administrations.  

         But it also must be acknowledged that these two stamp issues are also linked, through their designer, their printer and their subject of penguins.

The six value Ross Dependency Penguin issue.

2001 Penguins

         On the same day that the Ross Dependency issued a six value set on the Penguins of Antarctica, New Zealand issued a six value set on the penguins of New Zealand. While these sets were issued by different postal administrations they must be considered as related. They were issued on the same day, had the same designer and the same printer. Ross Dependency Postal Services are actually run by the “Ross Dependency Agency”, located at a post office in Christchurch as a agency of the New Zealand Postal Service (NZ Post).

2001 Ross Dependency - Penguins. 

Up to 80 per cent of a penguins life is spent in the ocean where their stiff, paddle-like flippers, torpedo-shaped bodies and heavy bones are ideally adapted for speed and deep diving. While other birds take to the skies, these fly through the water, cleverly camouflaged from beneath and above with their white bellies and dark backs.

2005 - 2009 Stamp Exhibitions.

During the 1980s NZ Post began issuing special collectors miniature sheets to be sold at the stamp exhibitions they attended. Usually, these miniature sheets featured stamps that were currently on sale at that time, in some cases, they were overprints of existing miniature sheets but since they were actually separate issues we have decided to feature them together in this series of posts.

This post will show all the special issues for stamp exhibitions that NZ Post attended during the period 2000 - 2004. It is most likely that we will not feature most of these issues on their own pages so they have been collected here.

  

1984 - 1986 Vintage Transport.

          During the 1980s NZ Post released three stamp issues with vintage transport themes. We have decided to combine these on a single page for ease of viewing and comparing the three sets. The first, featuring passenger ferries, was issued in 1984; the second, featuring trams, was issued in 1985; the third, came in 1986, featuring motorcycles. 

 

Ferries.                                                    Trams.                                                Motorcycles.

You may wish to view the earlier 1970s Vintage Transport Issues.

1988 Whales

Since 1978 whales have had total protection under New Zealand law but whaling once flourished on our coasts. The coastal waters and oceans surrounding New Zealand were rich in whale life and attracted hunters from the Northern Hemisphere as early as the late 1700s. Shore whaling stations were first established in New Zealand in Cook Strait and Fiordland areas in the 1800s, with the hunters preying on migrating right whales and humpbacks. The whalers were some of New Zealand's earliest settlers and their exploits make a graphic chapter in the nation's history. The last New Zealand whaling operation ended in 1964.

2010 Ancient Reptiles of New Zealand

In 2010 New Zealand Post celebrated our incredible extinct natural heritage with an issue of five oversized stamps and five amazing coins. These species disappeared 65 million years ago, but with a little help from New Zealand Post, you can see what it might have been like to meet them face to face. A hundred million years ago, our land formed the eastern margin of the southern super-continent of Gondwanaland. Separated by ocean, ‘Zealandia’ had its own group of dinosaurs, pterosaurs (flying reptiles) and giant marine reptiles that thrived here for 20 million years.

2011 Royal Wedding

 
      For millions of people around the world, 29 April 2011 was a day of jubilation. Hundreds of thousands lined the streets of London and television audiences globally tuned in to watch the much-anticipated wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales KG and Miss Catherine Middleton.

       The Royal wedding took place at the 1000-year-old Westminster Abbey – the coronation church since 1066 and the venue for 15 Royal weddings, including that of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. Once married, the couple returned to Buckingham Palace where The Queen hosted a reception, followed by a private dinner hosted by The Prince of Wales.

2010 Regional Postage

At the request of Post Shops in tourist destinations around New Zealand, New Zealand Post tested the popularity of regional booklets of stamps with this issue of two booklets for Kaikoura.

1983 Commonwealth Day

New Zealand, along with a number of other Commonwealth countries, issued stamps to mark Commonwealth Day in 1983. Consisting of four denominations, the issue reflects New Zealand's cultural, geographic and economic diversity. Each stamp features the Commonwealth symbol.

2017 Native New Zealand Freshwater Fish.

          More than 40 different species of freshwater fish have been identified in New Zealand’s waterways. Around three-quarters of these secretive and largely nocturnal natives are already endangered, which is a troublingly high number compared to other countries. Some of the issues our freshwater fish face include barriers in migration, destruction of habitat and the introduction of predators such as trout.

          Many of New Zealand’s freshwater fish species have had to evolve unique attributes in order to live in our varied habitats. The lowland longjaw galaxias is so named for its distinctive upturned lower jaw, the redfin bully has taught itself to climb, the longfin eel can live for up to 100 years, the lamprey is commonly known as a “vampire parasite” and the torrentfish has a unique zebra-style camouflage.
          From deep ice-cold lakes to fast moving raging rapids, the vast range of species found in New Zealand’s waterways are celebrated with these beautifully illustrated stamps. The diversity of New Zealand’s aquatic life is clearly apparent when these stamps are viewed side by side.

Centenaries 1985 & 1986.

           This post covers two issues celebrating centenaries of two organisations that do much to support our way of life in New Zealand. The first is the St John's Ambulance, always there in times of need, giving on scene first-aid and life-saving transport to hospital.
           The second organisation is the New Zealand Police. A strip of five stamps illustrating the varied facets of police work - old and modern.

1985 Centenary of St John's Ambulance.

1085 is one hundred years since the St John's Ambulance Association was established in Christchurch. To mark this event NZ Post issued a three value set showing the three crosses connected with St John's. This post looks at the history of the St John's movement going back hundreds of years before it became the organisation we know today.

24c - Bailiffs and Dames Grand Cross on Red.

2000 Ross Dependency Transport on Ice.

Transport on the Ice includes six stamps and a first day cover that depicts the rugged nature of the Antarctic terrain and the transportation challenges.

1993 World Wildlife Fund Conservation

For a small country, New Zealand is well endowed with fascinating wildlife. Yet a disproportionately high number of our native species are at risk of disappearing; some are rare, others endangered or vulnerable and many are regionally threatened. For many, time is running out. Reassuringly, though, a global awareness has helped turn the tide for some species.

1989 Wild Flowers

From the garden to the countryside you will find wildflowers growing in profusion and somehow this colourful scene brightens the day.

This set contains four introduced pasture or garden flowers which were probably planted by early settlers to remind them of 'home'.  The seeds were carried by wind, water and animals to places far beyond the original gardens and now provide colour along our roadsides and over the countryside. In some cases, plants such as the Clover have become assets to New Zealand while others, such as the Wild Ginger they have become problem weeds that people are now encouraged to remove.

1989 New Mail Centre Openings

On the 9th August 1989, NZ Post officially opened two new mail centres designed for the faster and more efficient sorting of mail for Hamilton and Auckland's North Shore. Special covers with pre-printed stamps were created to mark this important milestone. 

The front cover showing views of both centres. The stamp is an NZ Post mail van.

The reverse side with text regarding this event.

(See the text enlargement below.)

1999 Ross Dependency Night Skies

New Zealand's territory in the Antarctic, the Ross Dependency is justly famous for the diversity of its weather phenomena.

2017 Southern Lights.

          Auroras (Southern Lights), are the result of electrically charged particles from solar winds reacting with gases in the earth’s atmosphere. The excess energy from these reactions creates a stunning light show that can be seen at the North or South poles. In order to view the Southern Lights you would need to be as far South as possible, which is part of the reason that New Zealand is such a prime location for viewing these colourful displays.

          The Southern Lights can range in colour from pink to green to purple, with the colours dependent on a number of factors. The type of solar wind particle, the type of gas molecule and the electrical state at the time of the collision all have an effect on the eventual colour of the aurora.

                    

          The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is located in the Mackenzie Basin of the South Island. The extreme lack of natural light and the multitude of clear nights make it the perfect combination for stargazing, or if the timing is right, for viewing the Southern Lights. The Mt John observatory is the University of Canterbury’s premier astronomical observatory and is a much favoured spot for catching a glimpse of the Southern Lights.
          This stunning stamp issue features six gummed stamps - each featuring a photograph of the Southern Lights, taken at the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Each stamp shows a different view of the Southern Lights, with the various colours and patterns of shimmering light clearly evident in these stunning photographs.

                    

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.

1983 Rita Angus Paintings

This issue of stamps featured the works of Rita Angus whose meticulous compositions in oil and water-colours earned her the reputation as a leader of the modern school of New Zealand painting.

2011 Kapa Haka

Also see our index New Zealand Maori  

From the graceful movements of the Poi to the overwhelming power of the Haka, Kapa Haka (traditional Maori performing arts) is intrinsic to New Zealand’s cultural identity. Distinctive from other indigenous performing arts, Kapa Haka combines song, dance, expression and movement.

2011 Beyond the Coast

         New Zealand’s varied marine animals are brilliantly portrayed in this vibrant stamp issue: Beyond the Coast. The beautiful artwork was inspired by the Poor Knights Islands, which lie 23 kilometres off New Zealand’s Tutukaka coast in the upper North Island. A total marine reserve and nature reserve, these 11-million-year-old islands are rich with incredible marine life.          

          New Zealand’s 15,000 kilometres of coastline is home to magnificent coves, bays, harbours, sounds and fiords. However, beyond this irregular coastline lies a roughly 4.3 million square kilometre exclusive economic zone that hosts an array of unique marine life. More than 15,000 species are known to live there, of which many are migratory. New Zealand's isolation means that a large number of these species are unique to our island nation, and scientists believe that many more have yet to be found.

1998 Ross Dependency Ice Formations

Antarctica is roughly twice the size of Australia – some 14 million square kilometres. Massive glaciers flow down from the ice cap to merge into flat-topped ice shelves. One of these is the Ross Ice Shelf on what is known as the Ross Sea. This shelf is moving, pressing forward all the time. The airfields on the ice have to be move regularly, keeping then from drifting way from the bases on land. Relentless activity takes place all year round on this huge shelf, as nature creates daunting shapes and fascinating colours. This issue features examples of some of the ice formations that have been captured on film.