Focus Number 10 September 1991

OUR

C 0 V E R

S T A MP

Part 01 the 1940 Dominion

Centennial of New Zealand issue, the twopence stamp shown here commemorated the discovery of

New Zealand by Abel Tasman.

On the cover of our 10th issue of Focus, we feature a detail from a stamp which pays tribute to one of the great explorers of all time.

In 1642 Abel Tasman set off from his homeland of Holland in search of new and profitable trading partners for his country and on December 13th of that year, he Sighted New Zealand.

The significance of this event earned Abel Tasman a place in a special stamp issue released in 1940 to celebrate the centenary of our becoming a Dominion. Along with Tasman the issue featured: • The arrival of the Maori

• Progress of transport

• Cook's rediscovery of

• Hoisting the flag, Akaroa

New Zealand

• First shipment of

• One hundred years under the

British crown

frozen mutton

• Maori Council

• Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi

• Gold mining

• Immigrants at Petone

• Ciant Kauri

Because of the historic nature of most of these subjects, a great deal of care was taken to source authentic reference material from

which designers could work.

In the case of the complex Tasman stamp pictured above, artists were supplied with photographic copies of a chart from Tasman's journal, a portrait of Tasman taken from the Turnbull Library in Wellington and assorted illustrations of Tasman's ship the 'Heemskerck'.

.r' .( ~ -.

i

,

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\

New Zealand Post V(lm~lIt/('CfJlli'r"f"",

~ 2

G U EST

COLUMN

S T

Dear Stamp Enthusiast, It will come as no surprise to stamp collectors that there are a

considerable number of people outside New Zealand who are interested in the stamps and postal history of that country.

In January 1952 a number of enthusiasts met in Fleet Street, London and founded the New Zealand Society of Great Britain. From those small beginnings, the society has grown to become one of the largest specialist philatelic societies in the United Kingdom.

It has attracted collectors from all over the world from the general to the highly specialised. Its membership includes many famous New Zealand philatelists and the Society currently has three members who are signatories to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists.

The strength of the Society, however, rests with its general members, many of whom give sterling service as officers of Allan P. Berry,

the Society.

Many have contributed to the literature, particularly the

Editor of "The Kiwi",

the journal of 'The

volumes of "The Postage Stamps of New Zealand". The Society

New Zealand Society

itself has been involved in two publications, the most recent

of Great Britain'.

being "New Zealand - a Philatelic Miscellany" which was published in 1990 as a souvenir volume commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Every member receives "The Kiwi", a regular journal

containing articles of both general and specialised interest.

The New Zealand Society of Great Britain is affiliated to both the British Philatelic Federation and the New Zealand Philatelic

Federation.

In

addition,

cordial

relations

are

maintained with New Zealand Post whose support is much appreciated. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in

New Zealand philately and postal history.

If you would like to know more about our Society then

n

please write to the address at right.

Yours sincerely

\.......--P ~

Tht Hon. Grnc:rill Srcreluy Mrs M.ugilrcl Frilnkcom

Queens House:

HA Turul SI

~ Allan P. Berry F.R.P.S.L., F.R.P.S.N.Z.

Arundc:l West Sussu RN 18 90J ENGLAND

BUTTERFLIES 6

All

through

Novemb~"

THE

child-

hood we are fasci-

nated with vibrant

COLOURFUL

CREATURES

the For est Ri n g I e

colours

I

(Dodonidia he/in-

and graceful flit-

sii) The most vividly coloured of

ting movements of

all New Zealand butterflies, its

butterflies.

flight is distinguished by its fast jauntiness. It has a wing span of

For many the process of metamor¡

between 40 and 60mm and can

phosis from chrysalis

•

199/

be found in clearings and forest

to butterfly is eagerly

margins. Its favourite food plants

studied.

are forest sedges and forest

These fascinating

snowgrasses.

insects replace some of the present 'Birds' series

Sou the r n B I u e

of definitives.

otis

In New Zealand there

ox/ey;)

(Zizina

This

tiny,

are hundreds of species of moth and just over 20 species

weakly about, just above ground level,

of butterfly. They live in areas ranging

creature

but

abundant

stuttering

and

flutters

stopping

frequently.

from forest floors and swamps, to gardens,

It can be found east of the Southern

forests and rocky alpine

Alps and in North Canterbury, thriving in

areas.

warm, dry places below 1,000 metres.

To the

(Bassaris

expert there

which distinguish

feeding

a butterfly from

food, stinging

less experienced is one

voraciously

on its favourite

a moth. To the there

ilea)

strong flier can be seen

are many factors

nettle. With a wing span of

sure

way to tell them apart; look

50mm it prefers open

for tiny knobs on the end of

country,

the antennae - in New Zealand,

wastelands

and

gardens. The Yellow Admiral is

only butterflies have them.

often kept company by the Red Admiral.

4

s

THE

SUE

NEW ZEAlAND $2

$1 NEW ZEAlAND

NEW ZEAlAND $3

J f'1

COLLECTORS

NOTES

Designed

by

Wellington.

Printed by Leigh-Mardon

Pauline

Morse

of

Pty Ltd, Australia. Stamps are vertical in format and measure 29.4mm x 35mm.

IIIIIIII1111111111111111111111111111111111

A

F

F 0 R

R S T

cKl A H o R E

A U

N 0 R T H

S

N D

S

Later this month (October) Auckland's North Shore Philatelic Society will break new ground when

it

stages its

0< tobt:r ]5 18th

first

L/C'tlfldd C C'ntre'

National exhibition - Shorex '91 .

Nurth Shore' C,tv

The Shorex logo at right incorporates a stylised illustration taken from a stamp which is of particular significance for North Shore philatelists. The illustration you see is based on a class of yacht named

'T aka puna' which featured in the 195\ Health stamp issue.

As

this

year

NEW marks

the

ZEALAND

fortieth

anniversary of that issue, it is appropriate

Note: Original artwork, proofs and

that it should appear in the exhibition

stamps from this issue will be on display

logo.

from New Zealand Post's archives.

5

N A V

GATORS 11 March. 1991

1992 marks the anniversary of two

imagine the endurance and hardship

significant voyages. Next year's Naviga-

explorers of those times overcame.

these

In wooden boats, barely 50 metres

anniversaries and pays tribute

long, they spent months on end at sea,

issue

commemorates to

the

achievements

often combating illness and in some cases

of two of history's most

mutiny amongst the crew.

foremost

Their

primitive

and

somewhat

unreliable method of navigation using

navigators and

only the stars, links the discovery of New Zealand and the Americas. While in search of Asia, Columbus discovered America by mistake, thinking it to be China. Similarly, Abel Tasman discovered New Zealand while looking for a route to South America.

ABEL TASMAN Ab e I

J a n s zoo n

Ta s m a n

first

sighted land off the coast of Greymouth from his flagship the 'Heemskerck' which was accompanied by his other ship, the 'Zeehaen'. Despite thiS, neither he nor any of his crew set foot on New Zealand soil

and

it

was

left

untouched

by

Europeans until Captain James Cook landed in 1769.

Tasman spent around three weeks

explorers.

Firstly, it marks the

charting the west coast of New Zealand's

350th anniversary of the

North and South Islands, yet he failed to

sighting of New Zealand by

detect the passage of water separating the

Tasman in 1642. Secondly, it

two and which is now called Cook Strait.

commemorates Christopher Columbus'

Additionally, it wasn't until his later

discovery of the Americas in 1492.

voyage to Java via the Pacific Ocean that

Modern

communications,

he discovered New Zealand was not part

technol-

ogy and jet air travel make it difficult to

of Australia.

6

CHRISTOPHER

COLUMBUS

In 1402 Columbus set off from Portugal

many islands in the West Indies and the

in search of China. His first glimpse of the

Caribbean.

Americas was San Salvador, although at

COLLECTORS

the time, he thought he had reached his

Designed by Geoff Fuller of Havelock

intended destination.

The expedition involved three ships: The

'Santa Maria',

NOTES

which

North. Printed by Joh. Enschede en

Columbus

Zonen of The Netherlands by lithography. All four stamps are horizontal and

captained, the 'Pinta' and the 'Nin â&#x20AC;˘.

Columbus' other discoveries include

measure 28mm x 39mm.

IIIIIIII11111111111I111

s

THE

SUE

Heemskerck 45e

Zrehaen SOc

Santa Maria S 1.00

Pinta and Nina SI. 50

7

s

I N T R 0

Due E

T A MPS

AND

A

F R I

C0 l l

E

T 0 C T I B l E S

E N D

Do you know somebody who has similar interests to you ... someone who would

enjoy

reading

illustrated,

all

the

informative

beautifully

material

you

receive about stamps and collectibles,

including 'Focus?

Perhaps

you

know

of

someone

who would enjoy and learn from the opportunity to start their own collection.

Then give them the chance

to

join

our mailing list by completing the card at right and returning it to us.

COMPLETE AND MAIL THIS CARD

IIIIIIII1I11111111111111111111111111111111

0 R D

E R

S T A MPS

Y 0 U R

C 0 l l E C T I B l E S

THE

A

E A S Y

ND WAY

After each order is filled,

Open a customer account with us and

you'll

make ordering quicker and easier from

receive a statement of the credit remaining

now on.

in your account. So send now for your customer account application. It couldn't

HaVing a customer account means

you don't have to enclose payment each

be easier!

time you send us an order. Instead, you

simply make a deposit into an account held in your name at the Bureau. Then each

time

you

order

simply

quote

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customer number and authorise us to debit your account.

COMPLETE AND MAIL THIS CARD TO RECEIVE YOUR CUSTOMER ACCOUNT APPLICATION.

8

NEW

NAME

REFLECTS PHILATELY THE

N

'90S

ThiS month marks the beginning of a new era for philately in New Zealand.

For from now on New Zealand Post Philatelic will be known as New Zealand Post Stamps and Collectibles.

This

new

name

reflects

our

commitment to broadening the appeal of

A

TONGUE-TWISTER FOR

The

word

stamp collecting. However, it does not

YOUNGSTERS 'philatelic'

connotations and for

has many

alter our traditional services, the products we offer or the nature of our organisation

specialist

in any way.

would¡be

collectors is a little daunting. Indeed, some of our younger collectors even have

A

trouble pronouncing the name of their

As you

hobby!

accompanied by a new logo.

At New Zealand Post we recognise the

importance

of

encouraging

needed.

The

name

the

new

name is

and despatches your orders, we will also receive the new look treatment.

more descriptive and less intimidating was

will see,

RING

Here at the Bureau which processes

new

collectors - in particular, youngsters, so a name

FAMILIAR

However, we will retain part of our

New

previous

name

to

honour

the

long

Zealand Post Stamps and Collectibles

established relationship we have with our

was chosen.

customers. Our logo will look like this:

One of the reasons is that it more accurately describes our activities. The name also makes stamp collecting more

New Zealand Post Stamps arid Col/ectib/es

appealing and accessible to beginners and

Philatelic Bureau

children.

9

ANTARCT Ro<"

SEA l S

C

D~p~ndt'nc)' {HUr-,

8 April. 1991

The ice cold waters of New Zealand's

deceptive quickness on land enables it to

suhantarctic

skilfully hunt and eat penguins.

regions,

and

the

harsh

Antarctic itself, are home to many different

water with just its nostrils visible.

species of seal who thrive in the icy water

temperatures.

5e a I

In general, seals do not hunt or fight

collectively.

outside the family, preferissue

feature

six

of

of

these

lifestyle

is

the fea-

tures of this rare

When

dis-

turbed it emits an unusual tremulous coo-

ing, followed by clicks

characteristics. While they in

noises

one

seal.

with distinctive habits and differ

of

just

we

hardy creatures - each

may

series

distinguishing

ring life as a loner. this

(Ommata-

TOssi) A strange

They

avoid forming social bonds

In

The

Leopard can often be seen hanging in the

and a snort. The Ross Seal

and

prefers living on the pack ice off the

appearance, all depend on a land mass to

Antarctic coast.

breed their young.

SOU I her n El e p h ant 5 e a I (Miro-

THE Wed dell

ISSUE

unga leonina) The largest of all seals, the

5 e a I (Leptonychotes wed-

adult males grow to up to seven metres and

delli) This loner seal is rarely seen in New

can

Zealand, choosing instead to spend winter

particularly distinctive with his inflatable

weigh

four

tonnes.

The

bull is

below the ice, bUilding up reserves for the

trunk and large incisors. In the mating

summer. Its distinctive features include a

season his harem may include up to 80

rotund, blotchy body and small head.

cows.

C r a b eat e r 5 e a I (Lopodon

car-

Hook e r s

5ea

L ion

(Phocarctos

cinophagus) Surprisingly, the abundant

hookeri) The Hookers Sea Lion is New

Crabeater does not eat crabs. Rather, it

Zealand's only endemic seal and lives

dines on lobster hill, which early sealers

mostly on New Zealand's subantarctic

mistook to be crabs. It prefers to live in

islands - in particular Enderby Island in the

large groups, unlike many seals, and can be

Auckland Islands group.

found amongst the drifting pack ice.

Leo par d

The

5 e a I (Hydrurga leptonyx)

large,

dark

brown

male

is

distinguished by his coarse mane of hair, the

This aggressive lillle seal is distinctive for its

female is creamy white while the pups are

smallish body and huge, spoiled head. Its

chestnut in colour.

10

COLLECTORS'

NOT ES

Designed by Lindy Fisher of Auckland.

Colour Print, Dunedin. All six stamps are

Printed

horizontal and measure 35mm x 30mm.

by

lithography

by

Southern

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A

wo

R l D

F I

S

o

RS T

N

M A

l

R TIN G

Early next year New Zealand Post will

The system which is being developed

introduce a mail sorting system which will

by AEG Electricom of Germany, takes a

revolutionise the speed with which mail

video picture of each envelope then matches the figures it sees with a bank of

is sorted.

The Optical Character Recognition Letter will

Sorting

sort

Machine

characters to 'read' the address.

(OCR/LCR)

machine-addressed

Parcels, large envelopes and most hand-addressed envelopes will continue

mail

even without postal codes - at the rate

to be sorted by hand. However, because

of 30,000 an hour; a vast improvement

overall sorting time is reduced, users will

on the hand-sort rate of around 2,000

ultimately be able to post mail later and

an hour.

take advantage of later close-off times.

11

H E l P I N G T H E

T E A M T

T

o

o

S E N D

B A R C

o

l

E

N A

One of the most significant recent

relationships with its customers and to

undertakings by New Zealand Post is its

show New Zealand that the company

sponsorship of the 1992 Olympic Games.

embodies the Olympic ideals of Speed!

Excellence and Integrity.

New Zealand Post, in association

with the United States Postal Service and

The sponsorship has created many

some 30 other postal administrations, is an

exciting opportunities for New Zealand

official sponsor of the Winter Olympics

Post. Here are just two of them,

in

Albertville

Olympics

in

(France), Barcelona

and Summer (Spain).

The

company is also an active member of the

New Zealand Olympic Club and sponsor of the New Zealand Cycling Team.

As a company of 8200 staff, the sponsorship gives New Zealand Post an opportunity to build staff commitment to

the

New

Zealand

Post 'team

The winning design. Please note the face \'iflut: of

effort'

the actual stamp will be 45c.

by identifying with a successful national

DESIGN

sports team and a successful national

A STAMP

One of the first Olympic projects to be

effort.

implemented was the Olympic Stamp

It also gives New Zealand Post

Design

opportunities to build new and better

Competition,

which

invited

entrants to submit deSigns for a special

Olympic stamp

to

be issued in 1992. Over

500 entries were received.

The 10 finalist entries were

published in the "Listener" magazine and the public was invited

to

vote

for

their

favourite. For their trouble, voters were entered in a draw

to win one of 10 'Taste of Spain' hampers containing an

array of Spanish delicacies.

In total 6,118 votes were received

and the eventual winning deSign was

by

Sheryl

Invercargill.

12

McCammon

of

Her design depicts the silhouetted shapes

of

five

sprinters

leaving

their

blocks with each athlete representing one of the five colours of the Olympic rings.

Olympic Stamp Design Competition winner Sheryl McCammon receiving her cheque for 55,000 from Carry Wilson, New Zealand POSt

Sales and Retail Croup Mafla/Jl'r.

IIIIIIII111111111111111

ol

Y MP I

C P E N PAL

I N T ER N A T I

In

oNAl

June this year, New Zealand Post

launched

a

programme

which

C l U B C R EAT E S F R I E N D S HIP S special membership pack containing Pen

will

Pal stationery, a photo postcard, official

introduce thousands of school children

membership card and badge, tips on letter

to pen pals throughout the USA.

writing and a range of other items essential

Called The Olympic Pen Pal Club',

to being an Olympic Pen Pal.

the concept is the brainchild of the United

The

programme

is

deSigned

to

States Postal Service. New Zealand is one

encourage youngsters to spend morc time

of

writing, while also teaching them about

a

number

of

international

postal

life in another country.

administrations invited to participate in

an effort to match 600,000 American

By closing date some 50,000 children

youngsters with as many pen pals.

To

find

members

locally,

had applied; well in excess of the original New

estimated response of 25,000.

Zealand Post has, through schools, issued an invitation to all 8 to 12 year aids to join

Graeme Sheaf,

the club. Each club member will receive a

co¡ordinaror of rhe Olvmpic

Pl'l!

Pal Club,

with just some of the 50,000 applicoltiOrlS reCf.."ived.

,3

s

CA

A MER

s

CUP

SUE

11)ilnudry, /991

One of the world's great sporting

The IACC yachts are 20 per cent longer,

regattas is about to happen and it will be

30 per cent lighter and have 40 per cent

commemorated by a special stamp issue.

more sail area than the 12 metre yachts

From January to May 1992 New Zealand

used in Cup matches from 1958 to 1987.

will be challenging the rest of the world

They are predicted to be about

~

for the right to take the America's Cup

25 per cent faster than a

away from Dennis Canner and

metre

in

most

wind

conditions. A crew of 17,

bring it to New Zealand.

America's Cup 1992 will be the

including an owner's repre-

28th defence of the America's Cup,

sentative

is

required,

and

international

because of the combination of

sport. The Cup, 27 inches high and

lightness, size and sail area the

made of 134 ounces of silver, was first

demands on the crew are more

awarded in 1851.

physically taxing than with the

the oldest trophy in

SAN

12 metre yachts.

DIEGO

FINE NEW

SPECTACULAR

ZEALAND

The Cup winner will be(

SQUAD

decided by a "best-of-seven"

The New Zealand Chal-

match to be sailed off San American

lenge team is managed by the

team representing the San Diego

renowned Peter Blake and includes

Diego

Yacht

between

Club

an

and

a

many

single

Challenger. The Challenger will be determined

in

the

Challenger

Cup"

New

Zealand's

Barnes and Russell Coutls.

KZ7, "Kiwi Magic", captured

Selection Series "The Louis Vuillon

of

finest yachtsmen, such as David

which

the imagination of the whole

place from February to April

when

New

Zealand

1992. It is the aim of the

mounted its first challenge for

Mercury Bay Boating Club

the America's Cup in 1986/87.

For the 1992 Challenge there is

for New Zealand to be that Challenger.

a 13 month build up for the

By mutual agree-

60 member team in San Diego. Sir Michael

ment all Challengers

Fay

and the Defender will compete in the new

says, "Never have our chances been so

75 foot high-tech International America's

good, the Cup is within our sights. Now is

Cup Class (IACC) mono-hull yachts.

the time to go for it".

14

SURVEY

P R

Z E W

N N E R

Taking time out to complete a New Zealand Post survey has paid off for an Auckland collector, Mrs Barbara Streeter.

On purchasing her New Zealand Stamp Collection 1990, she completed a short

Mrs Srreerer receives her cheque and

purchaser's survey, went in the draw to

congrarulations From Mr Remit: Joyce, Manager of the Auckland Sales Cenrre.

win 52,000 - and won.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I. Write your title (ie Mr, Mrs ele), and full name and address on a piece of paper.

For example: Air John Smith ..,2A Dowling Road

"Focus" is prepared at New Zealand Post Headquarters, WeJlinglOn, and published in April and September each year.

Each issue is distributed hee to some' 100,000 stamp collectors, both in ew Zuland and overseas.

Articles may be extracted for reprinting without further ~rmission. Acknowledgements to "Focus" would be appreciated.

NAP/ER Indicate that you wish to be included on the mailing list.

NOTE: Some of lhe m.mps illuumed in lhis publiulKln ire 'oIhn from proofs and original ..n ...·ork and molY be subit<:11O alteralions.

2. Place in an envelope and mail to: 8iSH Umuroi M<lnager Philatelic Bureau New Zealand Post Ltd Private Bag WANGANUI NEW ZEALAND

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MPORTANT

ADDRESSES

NEW ZEALAND POST STAMPS AND COLLECTIBLES RETAIL OUTLETS

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Christchurch 0- Chief POSt Shop Telephone 0-3-531-771

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New Zealand Post Stamps tmd Collectibles 15

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