1996 MMP Elections

This special 40c stamp was released to commemorate New Zealand's first Mixed Member Proportional representation election that occurred in 1996. Part of the purpose of this issue was to promote the election and generate public interest.

40c - Beehive Ballot Box.

The stamp was a simple design, showing a cartoon view of what has become the symbol of New Zealand's government, Wellington's 'Beehive'. Also featured was the 'two ticks' logo signifying that, under MMP, each voter has two votes.

For more on this building, see our thematic collect - Parliament Buildings.

2006 Scenic - Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is used throughout New Zealand. Hydro systems, New Zealand's largest renewable energy source, generate around 60 - 70 per cent of the country's electricity and is available on an ongoing basis. New Zealand's unique geographic characteristics allow a number of renewable energy sources to be utilised - including the five sources shown on these stamps, hydro, geothermal, wind, biogas and solar.

The ideal promoted by this stamp issue is to have New Zealand totally free from burning coal of gas to generate electricity for our energy needs. 

2006 Gold Rush

        In the middle and later years of the 19th century, miners in their thousands travelled to New Zealand from all over the world, drawn by excited reports of gold discovered and dreams of riches beyond their imaginations. Their arrival and the results of their toil were to have spectacular effects on this country’s social and economic fabric – effects that can still be seen today.

       For many hopeful prospectors, their dreams of wealth were fulfilled, with fields in Thames, the West Coast and Otago yielding this precious metal in abundance. Their successes led to more arrivals, with New Zealand experiencing unprecedented population growth during the gold rush years – increasing by 75% between 1861 and 1864.

       The gold rushes now rank as one of the most powerful stimuli ever for the New Zealand economy, with the South Island, in particular, reaping the benefits of its newfound wealth.

2005 World Wildlife Fund - The Kakapo

       The kakapo (kākāpō) is critically endangered; as of April 2018, the total known adult population was 149 living individuals, as reported by the Kakapo Recovery programme, most of which have been given names. Because of Polynesian and European colonisation and the introduction of predators such as cats, rats, ferrets, and stoats, the kakapo was almost wiped out. 
       Conservation efforts began in the 1890s, but they were not very successful until the implementation of the Kakapo Recovery plan in the 1980s. As of April 2012, surviving Kakapo are kept on three predator-free islands, Codfish (Whenua Hou), Anchor, and Little Barrier islands, where they are closely monitored. Two large Fiordland islands, Resolution and Secretary, have been the subject of large-scale ecological restoration activities to create self-sustaining ecosystems with suitable habitats for the kakapo.

In 2005, NZ Post honoured the work and dedication of the WWF by featuring the kakapo on this four stamp issue. The first-day cover included all four stamps from this inspiring issue along with a special commemorative datestamp which featured the World Wildlife Fund for Nature logo.

2018 - Predator Free 2050.

     Predator Free 2050 is the ambitious goal to remove key mammalian predators from the New Zealand landscape by the year 2050. This effort involves central and local government, iwi, conservation trusts and philanthropists. Predator Free New Zealand Trust (PFNZ) is one of those organisations, working with community groups, schools, marae, neighbourhoods and businesses to ensure our precious native species can flourish for generations to come.

       New Zealand is an isolated island nation where many amazing animal species have evolved in the absence of mammalian predators. However, the introduction of species like rats, stoats and possums has resulted in the endangerment and extinction of many native birds, lizards and insects.

       Despite its reputation as an environmental paradise, New Zealand has the highest percentage of threatened animal species in the world. Over 80% of our native birds are at risk. Alongside large-scale eradication projects led by local and central government, PFNZ is supporting local communities, iwi, farmers and businesses to help in the effort to rid New Zealand of key mammalian predators by 2050, so backyards everywhere will be teeming with native wildlife for generations to come.

       This is a great goal to strive for and if we all get involved it could be achievable. So the question we should be asking is not "Can this ambitious scheme be achieved?" but rather "What can I do to help achieve it?"

       As the manager of a nest of farms, I have control over a large area of farmland, pine forest and native bush. Besides our role of fencing off and planting along waterways, for some years now we have been involved in an eradication program to remove unwanted pests and plant groups of native trees in areas not suitable for grazing. This is already showing signs of increased native bird life in many areas. Our goal - more environmentally friendly farming.

1997 New Zealand Art - Colin McCahon

       McCahon was born in Timaru but spent most of his life in Auckland, where he worked at the Auckland Art Gallery and taught at the Elam School of Art. He began as a landscape painter, and from this, a visionary style evolved featuring the placement of religious images and words against New Zealand landscape backdrops. His painting career spanned five decades.
       Few other 20th century New Zealand painters have received the international respect and admiration that has been accorded to Colin McCahon (1919-1987). The distinctive power and originality of his images have made him a giant of New Zealand painting.

The four stamps of this issue cover the different periods of his painting career as his style and emphasis changed over time.
See 2000 - Colin McCahon  1919 - 1987.

2006 Summer Festivals

In our final push, to publish all the stamps of  New Zealand, I was given this one, 2006 Summer Festivals. Nice colourful stamps with great subjects too. A lot going on, on each stamp, never seen them before but I love them. Allan also gave me such large sharp images which will really show off these stamp designs.  (Kim)

2006 Summer Festivals Joined Strip.

          When summer arrives, Kiwis throughout New Zealand head for the outdoors. In this diverse country, their activity choices are endless: for the sports-minded, the extensive array of water and land-based pursuits; and for the less energetic, the endless expanses of sun-drenched coastal beaches. But for everyone, there’s the delight of summer festivals – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy entertainment extravaganzas with friends and family alike.

          New Zealand’s Summer Festivals covered a spectrum of themes and activities – from family-focused events to music, theatre and dance and energy-packed sporting spectacles and competitions. Whatever you choose to attend, you can guarantee it will be good for the heart and the soul – a great way to enjoy the season of sunshine.

2005 Commemoratives

In 2005, New Zealand Post celebrated the invaluable and selfless work of three community-based organisations who celebrate key moments in their history. Through this issue, New Zealand Post paid tribute to the many thousands of New Zealanders who, as members and supporters of these three community groups, cared for those around them.

Six single stamps and four miniature sheets.

Let's look at them in more detail below.

2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 80th Birthday

        In 2006 Queen Elizabeth II turned 80. This highly respected and hardworking Head of State has made a remarkable impact on her country and the world stage. Her important personal milestones include her 1997 Golden Wedding and her 2002 Golden Jubilee, and she continues to attend hundreds of public engagements every year.
        From her youngest days, Queen Elizabeth’s life was influenced by her future prospects – at school, she studied constitutional history and law, art and music, combined with horse riding, amateur dramatics and swimming.
        Gradually, she accepted more public responsibilities: sending a radio message to the children of the Commonwealth and Great Britain when she was 14; inspecting the Grenadier Guards (of which she’d been appointed Colonel-in-Chief) when she was 16; and, from 1944 onwards, accompanying the King and Queen on many of their tours of Britain. In 1947 she made a personal dedication to the service of the Commonwealth, repeated in 1953 on her accession to the Throne after the sudden death of her father.

A joint issue miniature sheet commemorating the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II was issued on her birthday - the 21st of April - by New Zealand Post and Jersey Post. The stamps feature a relaxed portrait of the Queen by photographer Julian Calder with a 99% silver foiled border and text.

2006 Kapa Haka - Maori Performing Arts (Withdrawn Issue)

       To tell you the truth, I struggled with the idea of doing a post on this issue. The other writers tell me I am the blog owner but when it comes to decisions like this I usually get out voted. They said this issue is on the NZ Post website, it's on the Stamps NZ website so it should be on ours too. Since I do all the issues with Maori themes, I've got the job.
       The story goes that certain Maori groups were horrified when they saw these stamps and complained to NZ Post. The issue was rejected just before it was issued. All stock already sent out to postal outlets was recovered and returned for destruction so that should have been the end of the story. But it wasn't as some were sent out to 8 customers before the issue date. In spite of attempts to have these returned, some, as listed below never were. 

Generally, I like the great job that has been done over the years regarding our postage stamps. I am proud to see them representing New Zealand as they do. But this set? Guys, what were you thinking? I think I could except most of the designs but those faces! I know the intention might have been not to show any particular person and I suppose it could be argued that in this they succeeded. But they look so ugly, the worse being the woman on the $1.35 value. Ok, I've had my little rave, let's get on and review them now. 

For other posts with Maori themes - New Zealand Maori Index.

1995 Environment Stamp Booklet

New Zealanders are fortunate to live in such a unique and captivating land. There are plant and animal species that are found nowhere else on the planet but live here in a land that is both clean and beautiful. Every person can make small contributions towards maintaining the beauty and richness that surrounds them. The importance of caring for our environment is depicted in this Environment stamp issue.

Set of used stamps.

2018 Scenic Definitives

Definitive Tour

Back to 2017 Scenic Definitives.                Forward to 2019 Scenic Definitives.

       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.

1995 Centenary Of Rugby League

          Rugby league had its beginnings in Huddersfield on 29 August 1895 when 22 rebellious Yorkshire and Lancashire rugby union clubs in England's industrial north held a meeting in Huddersfield and voted to quit the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and form their own organisation (the Northern Union). Their dissatisfaction stemmed from the RFU's refusal to allow players to be compensated financially for taking time off work to play rugby. It was not long before a new brand of rugby developed. League was on its way. New rules emerged, speeding up the game and making it more open. Out went lineouts, play-the-ball restarts were introduced and, in 1906, teams were reduced from 15 to 13 players. League also became professional.
The 'All Golds'
          Rugby league in New Zealand grew out of the original rugby union All Blacks tour of Britain in 1905-6. Some of the touring New Zealanders watched the league, were impressed with the new game and became converts.
          One of these All Blacks, a fleet-footed winger named George Smith, returned home and quickly teamed up with keen young sportsman and budding entrepreneur Albert Baskerville, to form New Zealand's first rugby league side. Including many former All Blacks and dubbed the 'All Golds' because of its semi-professionalism, the team embarked on a tour of Britain in 1907-8 without having played a single game in New Zealand.
         The tour was a success. The All Golds won 19 of their 35 games including the test series against Great Britain which was won 2 - 1. On the way home the All Golds also captured two of three tests against Australia. On their return, the All Golds made up most of the two teams that squared off in what was the first league match ever held in this country. It took place in Wellington on 13 June 1908 before a crowd of around 7,000. The name All Golds has long been consigned to history but today's 'Kiwis' continue the tradition begun in the early 1900's.

1995 Anniversaries and Events.

Three stamp issues during 1995 celebrating important events.

 

 1995 Conferences.                                                                         1995 United Nations.

1995 Commonwealth Heads.

1997 - Roses - Joint Issue with China.

Chinese and New Zealand Issues.

New Zealand and the People's Republic of China celebrated the beauty and splendour of the rose in this joint stamp issue. The two stamps featured the Rosa rugosa and the Aotearoa-New Zealand roses. The stamps were available as se-tenant pairs of two 40 cent stamps, as well as in a miniature sheet. Both, the New Zealand and the Chinese stamps, carried the same design and all four stamps appeared on the New Zealand first day cover.

We have laid out both issues with their First Day Covers. While showing stamps other than New Zealand could be considered beyond the scope of this blog, we feel with joint issues its worth showing the issues from both countries.

1997 New Zealand Wine Regions / Vineyards

In 1997, NZ Post wrote as they issued these stamps:- 
"New Zealand burst onto the world wine stage in the 1980s with striking Sauvignon Blancs that crammed more flavour into the glass than any other country had ever achieved with that classic French variety. Today's (1997) wines are riper and less green-edged in an easier-drinking style, but they are still considered to be some of the best in the world. New Zealand's climate and soils are the key assets that enable the production of outstanding table wines. Around the world, the finest wines are grown in regions with relatively cool climates where grapes are able to ripen fully but slowly, retaining their refreshing acidity while building up subtle aroma and flavours."

In 2018, when I am writing this, the wine industry of New Zealand has continued building from strength to strength. New Zealand's wine production has been undergoing rapid growth, averaging 17% per annum for the last 20 years. In 2017 New Zealand produced 285 million litres from 37,129 hectares (91,750 acres) of vineyard area, about three-quarters of which is dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc. Nearly 90% of total production is exported, chiefly to the United States, Britain and Australia, reaching another record of NZ$1.66 billion in export revenue in 2017. New Zealanders over the last ten years consumed a fairly constant 20 litres of wine per capita, about a third of which is imported from other countries, mainly Australia.

Personal Comment - New Zealanders should stop buying the cheap Australian wines dumped on our market here and start buying many of the quality New Zealand wines that can often be purchased at not much more than the Australian ones.

1997 Royal Golden Wedding Anniversary

        Princess Elizabeth was born on 21 April 1926, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. In 1936, on the abdication of King Edward VIII, the Duke and Duchess became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother) and Princess Elizabeth heir presumptive to the throne.

        The Duke of Edinburgh, formally His Royal Highness Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, was born on 10 June 1921, on the Greek island of Corfu. He is the only son of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. His mother was the sister of Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

        On the 20th of November 1947, cheered by the teeming throngs lining the entire length of the processional route, supported by crowned heads and invited dignitaries at the ceremony itself, and before millions more through the medium of television throughout the United Kingdom and abroad, Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh were married at Westminster Abbey, London.

        In January 1952 The Princess and Duke, on behalf of the King, left England for a tour of East Africa, Australia and New Zealand. However, on 6 February, while holidaying in Kenya, King George VI died. Princess Elizabeth immediately returned to England as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and she was crowned on 2 June 1953 in Westminster Abbey.
       In 1997 the couple celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary, 50 years of marriage. To mark this special anniversary, NZ Post issued a single stamp showing Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. The stamp was only issued on special miniature sheets of 10 x 40c stamps.

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.

2018 Round Kiwis.

        June 2018. I will remember it for the birth of my third child. I'm in the birthing home for a few more days and can't get around much yet. Allan was here and heard me complaining about being bored. "Write up the latest stamp issue," he told me "That will keep you quiet for a while." So I  went and checked it out.
         Oh wow! The round kiwis are back. One of the first larger pages I did for this blog was the story of the Round Kiwis. They became one of my favourite stamp designs. I have all of them in my stamp collection. Now there are another five to collect.

  

                          

1988 Round Kiwi.                                                           2018 Round Kiwi. 

         New Zealand Post's popular Round Kiwi stamp has been refreshed for the eighth time, It has been 30 years since it was first launched in 1988 and so to celebrate, a new set was released. The issue features all five species of kiwi in their habitat - the brown kiwi, great spotted kiwi, little spotted kiwi, tokoeka and rowi – and in a range of vibrant colours. See our Round Kiwi Collection.

        These stamps are considered to be definitives so at present there is no date set for them being withdrawn. I am sure they will be more popular with collectors rather than used as general definitive stamps. I also would expect some of the earlier issues might increase in value as new collectors go back to add them to their Round Kiwi Collection.

        Kiwi are flightless, nocturnal birds endemic to Aotearoa. They emerge from their burrows after dark to forage noisily along the forest floor and sniff out worms and insects. Their nostrils are at the base of their bill and give the kiwi a superior sense of smell that makes up for its poor eyesight. Kiwi have been described as ‘honorary mammals’ because of their hair-like feathers, long tactile whiskers at the base of their bill, and their marrow-filled bones. Kiwi are also sometimes called ‘te manu huna a Tāne’ - the hidden bird of Tāne, the god of the forest. See our post on the Maori Legend - How the Kiwi Lost His Wings.

1995 Golf Courses

        The game of golf followed the Scots to New Zealand. It all began in Dunedin when a young whisky distiller named Charles Howden called a meeting to form a golf club in 1871. The game grew slowly when a surge in its popularity in Great Britain was mirrored in the colonies.
        In 1899 a national golfing body was formed in New Zealand. And over the decades the game has boomed, growing from strength to strength. In 1995 when these stamps were issued, nearly 113,000 registered golfers enjoyed the sport, year round. Just as New Zealand is well known worldwide for its beauty, so too are its golf courses. This special issue of golf stamps depicted four of the country’s most attractive golfing venues. Each of these courses provide a showcase for the natural splendour of their region.

The four stamps of the 1995 Gulf Courses issue.

1990 - 1994 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 1990 - 1994. It is most likely that we will not feature all of these issues on their own pages so they have been collected here.


1990 Stamp World London.
New Zealand Post attended the 1990 Stamp World Exhibition in London in May 1990. A miniature sheet was produced to commemorate the occasion incorporating the 50c 'Endeavour' stamp from the '1990 Heritage - the Ships' stamp issue, against a background design reproducing Captain Cook's early chart of New Zealand.

$1.30 - London '90 Exhibition Miniature Sheet with one 50 cent stamp.

Captain Cook's early chart of New Zealand featuring the 50c 'Endeavour' stamp from the 'Heritage - the Ships' stamp issue was produced to commemorate the 1990 Stamp World Exhibition in London in May 1990.

2018 The Royal Wedding.

Anne here.
      Early this evening, (Sun 20th May 2018) I got a text from our blog owner, Allan. 
               "NZ Post just issued stamps for Royal Wedding. Do you want to run with it?
                           Min sheet and six stamp images in our drop box.    Allan."

The opening for this issue on the NZ Post Website was: -

Millions around the world watched and celebrated as His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms Meghan Markle wed on 19 May 2018 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. New Zealand Post is honoured to mark this special occasion with celebratory stamps.

NZ Post website. 

       Last night, we held a Royal Wedding Party and some of us watched well into the early hours of the morning. The day was beautiful and the wedding set in the chapel of a historic English castle. It was the true fairy story where the girl from America found and married her real prince.

      This wedding was different from the formal wedding of William and Kate, held in the centre of London in 2011. It was less formal, held in Windsor Castle rather than London. I felt it fitted the couple so well. Some have said her dress was plain and she wore hardly any jewellery but couldn't that be what she intended? This couple is no longer in the direct line to the throne so in many ways will have a freedom that William and Kate will never have. It seems like the Queen cut them some slack and allowed the royal protocol to be bent a bit too. But for a wedding of a modern couple in a family steeped in traditions, I think they got the balance about right. 

      We enjoyed those special moments of the wedding. The looks between them all the way through the wedding service. That look on the young page boy as he saw inside the chapel. It was like, "Wow!" The first married kiss. (I don't think it was as good as Kate and William's) The sermon by the charismatic preacher from the USA. I think he might have shocked a few royals. Ha! Ha! Those beautiful horses pulling the carriage. Yes, they know how to do it with flare in England. 

Also, see 2018  Royal Visit.

2018 World War I Commemorative Book Series.

          "100 years ago, the shape of New Zealand began to change forever, as we followed King and Empire to serve in the First World War. What was meant to be a ‘great adventure’, soon affected every New Zealander at home and abroad, with 18,500 New Zealanders never to return. To commemorate this important centenary and honour those who served, New Zealand Post is issuing official stamps and legal tender commemorative coins."
         That was the opening statement for this series of issues from the NZ Post website. This was the beginning of a complex series of issues spread over five years. Each year a collector book was produced to go with the stamps and tell the story behind the New Zealander featured each year. Five books together with their collector bookcase. 

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2018 Back From The Brink. - 1918.

2018  World War I Commemoration Book Series.

Back to 2017  The Darkest Hour - 1917.

       The beginning of hope. In this, the final instalment of this World War I series we see the end of the war and things beginning the long road back towards normal although they would never be the same as they were before the war. During World War I, things had changed, the world had changed. Back in New Zealand, families were coming to terms with the knowledge many young men would never return. Many women, who had enjoyed new freedom outside the home, working in employment, job situations never opened to them before the war didn't want to return to being a house-wife. 

All ten stamps on a special miniature sheet.

2018 Maui and the Fish

Maui and the Fish - Te Ika-a-Maui.

       The first time I can remember hearing this story was on the Sunday Children Request show, on the radio station, 1ZB. This and How the Kiwi Lost His Wings became favourites of mine when they appeared on the show. These days, of course, television has taken over children's entertainment on a Sunday morning. 
        So being born in New Zealand, I grew up with many of these stories but being a Pakaha (White European), I didn't have much contact with Maori mythology once I became an adult. When I began this blog I soon discovered there were many stamp issues with Maori Mythology themes. Since then, the richness and complexity of the Maori culture became a source of fascination and intrigue.  

         New Zealand has issued two other stamps telling the story of Maui and the Fish. These can be found below, at the bottom of this post, or via links from our index page New Zealand Maori.


NZ Post describes this issue:- 
        Māui and the Fish - Te Ika-a-Māui is one of many tales of the mischievous demigod chronicled for centuries across Pacific cultures. Despite the considerable distance between islands such as Hawaii, Tonga and even New Zealand, the similarities between many of the legends are uncanny.
        Many versions of this story exist as it has been passed from generation to generation. We present this story with words by Louis Armstrong, Cultural Education Lead for the iwi of Raukawa in the South Waikato town of Tokoroa.

        Since, I do not understand much te reo Maori, when I came to layout this page I debated as to whether I should include the Maori versions captions of this story under each stamp as they appeared on the NZ Post website. Finally, I decided the value of adding the story in two languages was worth doing.