2019 Te Araroa Trail

The Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand’s long walking trail, is a 3,000-kilometre tramping route running from Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island to Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. Popular with visitors to Aotearoa, walking the length of New Zealand is a burgeoning rite of passage for Kiwis.

Te Araroa Trail Miniature Sheet.

Te Araroa’s founders wanted to open up the great variety of landscapes and stunning scenery to those who are prepared to walk the track. It is suggested to explore it all, taking one section at a time over a period of five or six months. This stamp issue celebrates this amazing trail with six stamps highlighting the diversity of New Zealand’s landscape.

Royal Visit 2019

On 17 November 2019, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne of New Zealand, began a six-day tour of Aotearoa with his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. This trip will be Camilla’s third and Charles’ tenth. 

Charles and Camilla.

2019 Rock Legends

The Rock Legends stamp sheet delivers a tongue-in-cheek take on some of New Zealand’s quirkier rock formations, taking us on a tectonic tour of New Zealand’s head-shaped geological wonders. 

         

The miniature sheet below says - "Have we got rocks in our head? No, but we've definitely got heads in our rocks."

2019 Christmas Issue.

The New Zealand 2019 Christmas Stamps featured native New Zealand flora and fauna alongside the traditional Nativity story. The stamps included illustrations of fern fronds and koru, pōhutukawa, harakeke, tī kouka and karaka. A beautiful kereru, or New Zealand wood pigeon, makes an appearance on the miniature sheet and first-day cover.

2020 Kakariki - New Zealand Parakeets.

In te reo Māori, the indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand, kākāriki is the term used to describe the small parakeets found on the mainland and surrounding islands. All species and subspecies of New Zealand parakeet share the characteristic of green plumage, and kākāriki also serves as the word for this colour.

Kākāriki are small moss green-coloured parrots with a few blue flight feathers and long tails. Each species is diagnostically different, often with bright red or yellow feathering on the forehead and crown, near the eye and on the side of the rump. Like many of New Zealand’s native birds, they are threatened by introduced mammalian predators.

2020 Native Daphne Moths

This is an unusual stamp issue in that the stamp only contains half of each moth. Sure, we can be certain that the other missing half would identical as that is how things work with moths and butterflies. But I don't think I have ever seen half a moth or butterfly on a stamp before.

2008/2020 The Year of the Rat.

The Year of the Rat.

2020 completes two circles of the Chinese calendar, a total of 24 issues in all.

In 2020, Chinese New Year was celebrated on 25 January, bringing in the Year of the Rat. The Chinese zodiac is a repeating cycle of 12 years, with each year being represented by an animal sign. The rat ranks first in the animal signs of the Chinese zodiac, preceding the cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

 

People born in the Year of the Rat are clever and adapt quickly to new environments. They prefer to live quiet and peaceful lives.

Optimism and energy are key traits for those born in the Year of the Rat. They tend to be sensitive to others’ emotions and comments but are known to be stubborn with their own opinions. While the Rat personality is kind, their words may seem impolite or rude due to a lack of communication skills.

Rats are great at seizing opportunities that present themselves but can sometimes lack courage. They love to be organised and place great value on family. They like saving money and can be known to be a bit ungenerous. Their love of hoarding will sometimes cause them to waste money on unnecessary things.

The most outstanding characteristics of people born in the Year of the Rat are alertness, resourcefulness and intelligence. Owing to their positive contributions and strong flexibility at work, Rats are popular with their leaders. They are vigilant, well organised and full of ideas.

2019 Tuia 250: Michel Tuffery's Artistic Journey of Discovery

To mark 250 since Captain Cook discovered New Zealand, Tuia 250 is a commemorative programme of experiences for encouraging honest conversations about the past, the present and how we navigate our shared future together. There are many events, over 50 projects enriching communities and an education programme happening nationwide right now.

The central event is the Tuia 250 Voyage. A flotilla made up of two waka hourua from Aotearoa, three tall ships including the Endeavour replica from Australia, and a va’a tipaerua from Tahiti, sails the coast to engage with communities, iwi and hapū for three months from October to December.

Three of these vessels will use the non-instrument navigation methods Pacific voyagers have used for generations, guided by signs in the environment such as the position of the stars, moon and sun as well as the wind, swells and bird patterns. The opening events for the Tuia 250 Voyage are in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa (Gisborne) from 5–8 October.
(https://mch.govt.nz/tuia250/about-tuia-250)

Tupaia (also known as Tupaea or Tupia) (c. 1725 – December 26 1770) was a Tahitian Polynesian navigator and arioi (a kind of priest), originally from the island of Ra'iatea in the Pacific Islands group known to Europeans as the Society Islands. His remarkable navigational skills and Pacific geographical knowledge were to be utilised by Lt. James Cook, R.N. when he took him aboard HMS Endeavour as a guide on its voyage of exploration to Terra Australis Incognita. Tupaia travelled with Cook to New Zealand, acting as the expedition's interpreter to the Polynesian Māori, and Australia. He died on 26th December 1770 from a shipborne illness contracted when Endeavour was docked in Batavia for repairs ahead of its return journey to England. 

Sir Edmund Hillary - A Thematic Collect.

The recent issue celebrating the life of Sir Edmund Hillary got us thinking about this man and his achievements. Allan & Mary knew of some other stamps issued featuring this famous New Zealander and so we decided there might be a possible thematic collection. With their advice, I did some digging. The page below is what I found.
Note - All stamps are New Zealand unless stated otherwise.

1954 Health Issue.
Health stamps were issued with two values, the primary one for postage and a secondary value for funds to support children's Health Camps.
Health Stamps - Part Two.

                                

1954 Tramper - 1½d + ½d.                                      1954  Tramper - 2d + 1d.

 A young tramper, with a map in hand, is depicted gazing across Lake Wanaka with a snow-clad Mount Aspiring rising in the distant background. Since Edmond Hillary had just climbed Mt Everest, a view of this mountain was included in the upper left-hand corner.

Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary reached the summit of the world's tallest mountain, Mount Everest on 29 May 1953. It would be over 12 months before this feat was recognised on a New Zealand stamp. Even then it appears to be an afterthought with the view of Mount Everest being printed using lithograph printing on each recess-printed stamp. Edmund Hillary is not mentioned on the stamps. 

2019 Scenic Definitives

Definitive Tour

Back to 2018 Scenic Definitives.                Forward to.......

          

Adhesive Stamps.                                          Gummed Stamps.

The 2019 Scenic Definitives were issued to accommodate this year’s postal rate increase and are available in a range of gummed and self-adhesive options. They also include a re-issue of the 2016 Scenic Definitives Dunedin Railway Station stamp.

2019 All Blacks - The Silver Fern.

It is 135 years since the fern first appeared on the breast of a New Zealand rugby jersey. To date, nearly 1,200 All Blacks have worn this now-famous icon. Today the black jersey emblazoned with the iconic silver fern is more than a symbol of pride for Kiwis and rugby excellence for rivals. 

This issue also marks the beginning of the 2019 World Rugby Cup, which was held in Japan with the stamps being issued on the day of the opening ceremony.

 

  1905 Silver Fern.                                                                              2003 Silver Fern.

Over the years NZ Post has issued some very dull and uninteresting rugby stamp issues but this one has proved to be different. The history of the fern, what a great idea. We get to see how the first silver fern has changed and developed into the fern being worn in Japan by 2019 All Blacks.  
See our thematic collection - Rugby on New Zealand Stamps.

(Images on this page will be replaced as better ones become available.)

2003 Conquest Of Everest

"Well George, we knocked the bastard off!" With those now-famous words, New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary announced the conquest of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953.

Se-tenant Pair of two 40 cent stamps.
Have a close look at these photos. Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary together achieved what no man had ever done before - reached the summit of the world's tallest mountain: the roof of the world.

2002 Native Fungi

Unique, essential, extravagant - our native fungi are truly remarkable. They come in an astonishing array of shapes and vivid, even extravagant, colours. Surprisingly, they are not part of the plant kingdom. In fact, in some respects, they have more in common with animals. Their structure is so unique that scientists now put fungi in a kingdom all of their own.

Fungi are essential to the ecosystem of our forests and bush. They decompose dead plant or animal material and recycle minerals locked up in organic material that trees and plants could not otherwise absorb.

2000 - Threatened Birds

 

        With the arrival of humans in New Zealand some 1,000 years ago, many of our bird species became extinct and more continue to be threatened by the destruction of habitats, introduction of weeds and animal pests.
        New Zealand has become known for its expertise in threatened species management, including better pest control, extending protected areas on land and sea, and restoring offshore island sanctuaries. This work, which continues to be done, has had a marked effect on re-building the populations of these national treasures.
        This stamp issue featured six New Zealand and one French threatened bird, including one of our national icons - the kiwi – and the world’s heaviest and the only flightless parrot – the kākāpō. The New Zealand birds were selected with the assistance of the Department of Conservation.

2019 - Ross Dependency: Cape Adare

One of the harshest environments on Earth, Cape Adare is located 780km north of Scott Base. It was here, in 1894, that humans first set foot on the Antarctic mainland, and who in 1899 built the first Antarctic base.

Before the world had heard of Scott and Shackleton, a group of 10 young men from Norway, England and Australia spent a year at Cape Adare. They paved the way for the more famous explorers who followed, and the 2019 Ross Dependency stamps recount their rarely-told story.

The Cape Adare base centred around two prefabricated wooden huts and was used just twice. After 1912, it was abandoned for more than a century to the harsh extremes of the Antarctic climate and a babble of the penguins. But the original huts stood firm, sheltering the food, clothing and equipment left behind by Antarctica’s earliest residents. This latest Ross Dependency stamp issue tells the story of these huts through five key artefacts recently collected by the Antarctic Heritage Trust (AHT).

2019 Moon Landing 50 Years

 In 2019 the world celebrated 50 years since the first Moon landing. NZ Post was involved in three separate issues that marked this event. All 12 stamps, from three different stamp issues and three different postal administrations, are shown in this post along with miniature sheets and First Day Covers.

       

       

Four stamps from the New Zealand 3D Lenticular Miniature Sheet.

 
Sets issued by Niue and Tokelau.
Yes, we know this is a blog on New Zealand stamps but these two issues were too good to pass up.

2019 China World Stamp Show

        The China 2019 World Stamp Exhibition was a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It was held at the Wuhan International Expo Center from June 11-17, 2019. A total number of exhibits reaching 3,500, and it attracted philatelists from more than 80 countries and regions.
        New Zealand Post has created a special miniature sheet and first-day cover to commemorate this exhibition, featuring 2019 issue Native Alpine Flora.  

Exhibition Miniature Sheet with two $1.20 and one $2.40 stamp. 

(Surcharged $2.00 to fund Philatelic Trust for hobby support.)

2019 Kupe - The Great Navigator

Throughout the Pacific region, Kupe is the navigator credited with bringing the knowledge and data back to the Pacific that enabled the eventual population of Aotearoa. This issue explores the adventurous legend of Kupe’s pursuit of a great octopus and the ways of Polynesian navigators who used the sky and ocean to guide their journeys between the islands of the Pacific.
You might also like my post - Kupe and The First Maori Settlers.
For other posts on Maori culture & legends see our Index - New Zealand Maori.

Rocket Lab.

A thematic collection of postal items and images featuring USA/NZ company Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab was founded in 2006 by New Zealander Peter Beck, with the aim of developing lightweight, cost-effective and high-frequency rocket launch services. It soon became clear that more funding and support was needed than could be found in New Zealand so Peter turned to the USA space industry. Rocket Lab became a USA company with a New Zealand subsidiary. While the company is run from the USA, much of the rocket manufacturing and launches are based in New Zealand.

On 25 January 2018, Rocket Lab burst into the world of stamps with this impressive miniature sheet. The sheet, designed and issued by NZ Post, included a background image by Sam Taylor, of Napier and six stamps featuring images supplied by Rocket Lab.

2000 - On the Road - Classic Cars

Do you know any of the cars on this page? Maybe driven one or owned one. Don't say 'yes' too loudly as you will probably be showing your age.

2003 Scenic - Waterways

Water surrounds our nation and criss-crosses our countryside in a myriad of rivers, lakes and streams. It offers recreational opportunities and is transformed to generate most of our electricity supply. It yields an abundance of fish for our tables and sustains a tourism industry second to none. In short, it is part of our lifeblood - essential to our economic, social and environmental wellbeing.

The 2003 Scenic - Waterways stamp issue celebrated our waterways, particularly in light of two very special occasions - the United Nations International Year of Freshwater and the 50th anniversary of the Photographic Society of New Zealand.

2019 Sir Edmund Hillary 1919-2008

In 2019 New Zealand commemorates 100 years since the birth of Sir Edmund Hillary. These stamps celebrate key moments in the remarkable life of one of our greatest heroes.

The five stamps.

The enduring nature of Sir Ed’s legacy is that we see him as the embodiment of so many of the attributes that we like to see in ourselves. In our somewhat complicated and contradictory way, we saw him as both humble and successful, considerate and determined, accommodating and focussed, down-to-earth and highly talented.

In many ways, Sir Ed’s greatest strength was his ability to reinvent himself. And he did this throughout his long and remarkable life; new expeditions, new projects, new responsibilities. Sir Ed wrote books, made films and became the New Zealand High Commissioner to India. But there was always something that stood out, and that was his commitment to New Zealand. He was an extremely generous man, and he derived great pleasure from the successes of others. Simply, he wanted the best for the country and the people he loved.

2019 Colin McCahon 1919-1987

Five Paintings by Colin McCohon.

Born in 1919‚ Colin McCahon grew up in Dunedin‚ always knowing he would be a painter. The distinctive power and originality of his images would make McCahon a giant of New Zealand painting, and today he is recognised internationally as one of Aotearoa’s most significant artists.

Also, see the 1997 New Zealand Art - Colin McCohon.

Aviation in the Ross Dependency

         The 2018 Ross Dependency issue featured aviation in the Ross Dependency. This got me thinking about how many other stamps feature aviation as well. Why not group them into a thematic collection? Not limiting myself to just Ross Dependency stamps I have included other New Zealand issued stamps from NZ Post and Antarctica Post too. Please note that while many stamp issues are mentioned only stamps that actually show aircraft will be included in this collection.

1958 - The First Trans-Antarctic Crossing.

While this set of stamps didn't show any aviation the special cover did. On the cover below three types of vehicle used during this exhibition - husky pulled sledges, tracked vehicles and a DHC-2 Beaver. Another view of this aircraft can be found in the 2018 Ross Dependency issue.

1957-58 - First Trans-Antarctic Crossing - Commemorating Cover.
The stamps are the 1957 Ross Dependency Pictorials, an issue designed for use by the expedition and then used by the newly established Scott Base. 

2002 Children's Book Festival Stamps.

They say a picture paints a thousand words, but words, in turn, inspire pictures? That was the challenge for more than 2,300 schools in the 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Festival 'Design a Stamp' competition.

Primary and intermediate students throughout New Zealand seized the opportunity to design a stamp based on one of the finalists in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Choosing from three categories - picture book, junior and non-fiction - each child or class endeavoured to create a 'mini artwork' to fit the small stamp format.

The remarkable results led to this unique stamp issue. A national competition decided the 10 winners, whose ages range from five years to twelve years and whose homes span the length of the country.

Miniature Sheet.