Philatelic Bulletin
Bulletin philatelique
Philatelistische Nachrichten
Presentation Pack
An illustration of the ferry steamer Britannia features on the cover of the new Vintage Transport Presentation Pack , which contains four stamps depicting turn of the century passenger ferries - the
Mountaineer , the Waikana , the Britannia and the Wakatere
The presentation packs will be on sale from April 18 , 1984 and cost $2 .80 . Unless stocks are exhausted earlier , they will remain on sale at
Post Offices until November 30 , 1984 . They will be on sale at the Philatel ic Bureau , Private Bag , Wanganui (mail orders) and from Philatelic Sales Centres until stocks are exhausted
Postcards
Four new postcards featuring the 1984 "Vintage Transport " stamp issue will be available from April4 , 1984 The four passenger ferries depicted on the postcards are the Mountaineer (24 cents) , the Waikana (40 cents) , the Britannia (58 cents) and the Wakatere (70 cents) . These postcards will sell for 25 cents each and will remain on sale at Post Offices until October 31 , 1984 . They will also be available from the Philatelic Bureau , Private Bag , Wanganui (mail orders) and from Philatelic Sales Centres until stocks are exhausted .
Special Topic Stamp Issue
The stamps were designed by Waikana nevertheless proved to be Michael J. Wyatt , of Queenstown , very suitable for service and was who is an experienced designer of used by harbourside residents and technical subjects with a special weekenders for nearly 20 years At interest in transport This issue weekends she was used for picnics features the Mountaineer (24 cents) , and other excursions and would often . the Waikana (40 cents) , the Britannia be fully loaded The Waikana was soon (58 cents) and the Wakatere (70 joined by the look-alike Waireka which cents) . The Mountaineer and the carried 800 passengers , compared Wakatere served gold mining with the Waikana 's 750 The Waireka settlements while the Waikana and was also built by McGregors the Britannia operated as commuter The ferry steamer Britannia was built ferries on city harbours . in Auckland by C . Bailey in The vintage transport stamp series September , 1885 for the Devonport in 1972 with vintage cars . Ferry Company and was used on the Th1s 1ssue was followed by steam Waitemata Harbour locom9tives in 1973 , air transport in She has been described as a "real 1974 , sailing ships in 1975 , farm showboat " and is probably the best transport in 1976 , and fire fighting remembered of the Auckland ferries . appliances in 1977. lt was her interior that attracted so One of the last and best known much attention , painted white and paddle-wheelers , the Mountaineer , gold , with pillars and upholstered was employed on Lake Wakatipu crimson seats Between the windows She connected the railhead at were paintings of birds and flowers , Kingston with Queenstown and its believed to be the work of artist associated gold fields Gottfried Lindauer (1839 - 1926) Built in Dunedin by Kincaid and As well as carrying passengers , the McQueen , she was trial assembled Britannia also transported vehicles there before being shipped in knock- and on race days she was used to down state to Bluff . From there she transport horses . was railed in three sections to The ship was sold in 1921 to the Kingston where she was assembled Takapuna Tramways and Ferry before her launching on Feb 11 ,1879. Company and was then modernised Her length was 38 metres , beam f ive The funnel was lengthened , two metres and depth two metres . She wheel -houses were added and the took two hours to make the run from engine room was altered Kingston to Queenstown . After many In 1927 the Britannia was again sold years of regular lake trips , the this time for 'conversion to a Mountaineer was sold to Major P. houseboat and later her timber was Mackenzie in 1932 who used her as used to build a four-room house a houseboat for visitors to his lakeside The paddle steamer on the 70c Waiter Peak sheep sta!lon The vessel stamp , the Wakatere , was built in Y"as sold to the for scrap Glasgow by Napier, Shanks and Bell 1n 1941 , and the matenals were used and arrived in Auckland 'in 1896 to do in the construction of minesweepers the Thames run . and Bren gun carriers Her maiden voyage from Glasgow to The Wa1kana , wh1ch 1s pictured on New Zealand had on board quite a the 40c stamp , was built by John few Auckland people . She first made McGrego r and Co Ltd , Dunedin , and an excursion trip from Auckland to provided the link between the heart Thames on December 16 , 1896 , and of Dunedin and its outlying harbour on December 18 began a normal settlements She was launched 1n service run 1909 , replacing the Matariki , whose The Wakatere weighed 447 tonnes engines formed the propelling and developed 1800 horsepower. Her nucleus ?f the Waikana length was 64 metres and beam Th1s eng1ne transplan t caused the eight metres One of the largest of new steamer to vibrate but the the Northern steamships , she was
able to carry 700 passengers
The name "waka " in the Maori language means a container (including a ship) and "waka-tere " means swift canoe. Indeed , the Wakatere was a fast and efficient paddle steamer and was able to cope with the shallow water at Thames . She had a speed of 15 knots and it took her three hours , 15 minutes to make the run from Auck land to Thames . She was in great demand for excursions and as a flagship on regatta days in the Hauraki Gulf. The Wakatere ran between Auckland and Thames until 1926 by which time road transport had become a more economical way of travelling . Her place on the Thames run was taken by the screw steamer Rangitoto and the Wakatere was sold for scrap in 1929
All four stamps are of horizontal format and measure 42 mm x 30 mm They are printed in sheets of 100 (10 rows of 10) , using lithography by Cambec Press Ply Ltd , Melbourne . Unless stocks are exhausted earlier the stamps will remain on sale at Post Offices until June 5 , 1984 and will be available from the Ph ilatelic Bureau , Private Bag , Wanganui (mail orders) and Philatelic Sales Centres until April 30 , 1985 . Plate/ imprint positional or value blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps of all denominations
Presentation Pack
A snowmobile at work against a background of snow -covered mountains is featured on the cover of the Antarctic presentation pack , released on February 15
Inside the presentation pack is a diagrammatic representation of Scott Base and specimens of the four stamps available , accompanied by an explanation of what each of the stamps depicts . The artwork for this special topic issue , " New Zealand Involvement in Antarctica ", was des igned by Maurice
Conly who is the official artist for the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research The presentation packs are selling for $2 80 at permanent and nonclassified Post Offices and Philatelic Sales Centres , and can also be obtained by mail order from the Philatelic Bureau , Private Bag , Wanganui. They will remain on sale at Post Offices until September 30 , 1984 , and at the Philatelic Bureau and Philatelic Sales Centres until stocks are exhausted
First Day Covers
Two different-sized First Day Covers were made available for the Antarctic stamp issue which was released on February 1. lt was the first time that such a double issue had been produced and it is possible that this move will be repeated if enough interest is shown .
The smaller cover is conventional size , measuring 210 mm across and 120 mm down . lt features a drawing of an iceberg surrounded by water and is designed to take only the four stamps.
The larger cover was specially designed to accommodate the miniature sheet and measures 230 mm across and 160 mm down The front shows two penguins in the foreground , surrounded by other penguins , researchers and a mountain background
The covers were designed by Maurice Conly, the official artist for the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientif ic and Industrial Research , who also designed the stamps .
Tokelau
Many aspects of Tokelau 's important copra industry are featured on a set of five stamps to be released on May 2 Designed by Maurice Conly of Waikanae , the five 48 sene stamps show the cultivation and harvesting of coconuts and the various stages in the preparation of copra . The Tokelau sene is equivalent to the New Zealand cent.
Copra , the dried , oil - yielding kernel of the coconut , is among the few revenue earners (others include stamps and coins) in the chiefly subsistence economy of Tokelau Along with the manufacture of plaited ware and woodwork , the production of copra is the only industry of significance on the atolls . The first of the stamps shows a Tokelauan in the foreground planting a sprouted coconut (pula pula) These nuts are chosen from the best local stocks and cultivated in special nurseries until ready to plant in selected re-planting sites . Fallen nuts are collected for copra from the base of the trees while in the background a villager climbs a palm tree (niu) to collect drinking nuts (hua) Husking and splitting , seen on the second stamp , takes place after collection . Each nut's husk is removed by bearing it down hard on a sharpened stake (these days often made of iron) and tearing the husk from it. In the background nuts can
be seen split by a single stroke from a bush knife , allowing the liquid to run into a tub The liquid will later be given to pigs , while fibre from the husks will be used as cooking fuel or decomposed as organic material for growing crops
The opened nuts are then laid out to dry in the sun (third stamp) After drying , the coconut kernel is removed from the shells by cutting it , as illustrated , with a knife . The next stage, seen on the fourth stamp , involves bagging and weighing the copra The dried kernels are collected in baskets and taken to the store where they are placed in bags. Each bag is rammed with a stout rod to ensure the maximum weight is included before the bag is sewn up . Three or four bags are generally weighed together Finally (fifth stamp) the bags are conveyed on the men 's shoulders to the reef channel where they are loaded in small lighters to be taken to the waiting copra ship beyond the reef
The five new Toke lau stamps have been designed and printed in a setenant strip which forms a single panorama. Each stamp is of vertical
process.
First Day Covers , also designed by Maurice Conly, will cost $2.49 and can be ordered from the Philatelic Bureau , Private Bag , Wanganui These will be forwarded to Tokelau for date-stamping and returned to the Bureau towards the middle of June , 1984 , then mailed to customers , unaddressed and in an outer envelope . If the order iS both for mint stamps and First Day Covers, it will be sent in one posting . Orders for First Day Covers close on May 2 The stamps are available in New Zealand only from the Philatelic Bureau or from the seven Philatelic Sales Centres and they will remain on sale until December 4 , 1984 The stamps are not valid for postage in New Zealand.
format and measures -----'-------"-- --'----'-28.45 mm x 42 58 mm. They were printed in sheets of 50 (two blocks of 25 stamps) by Waddington 's Ltd , England , using the lithography
Health
The 1984 New Zealand Health stamp issue , which will be released on August 1 , continues the domestic animals theme introduced in 1982 . This year , three popular breeds of horse are featured . Designed by Margaret Chapman of Christchurch , the stamps will come in two denominations . There will be two 24 cent + 2 cent designs (printed se-tenant) which show Shetlands and Clydesdales respectively, while a 30 cent + 2 cent stamp will depict thoroughbreds
The Shetlands were chosen for this issue because they are much loved pets in New Zealand , the Clydesdales as representative of this country 's early farming days , and the thoroughbreds to reflect New Zealanders ' keen interest in sport . Many New Zealand children have begun a lifelong interest in horses after owning or having had contact with a Shetland . For some children , it has been the first step in years of involvement with the popular Pony Club movement. The Shetland 's docile nature and height (it averages 1 metre) make it an ideal saddle pony for small children . Shetlands are one of the smallest and at the same time one of the strongest members of the equine world. Their origin is unknown but their existence has been recorded in the Shetland Islands for many centuries . The stamp shows Shetlands grazing in a field . The history of the Clydesdale breed dates back to Ule earlier part of the e1ghleijfflh century In order to increase the size of th.e
native draught horses in the area around the Clyde Valley in Scotland , Flemish stallions were imported . By the middle of the nineteenth century , Clydesdale exports had begun to New Zealand , and for many of this country 's pioneers the horse was an integral part of their life . Clydesdales were used to clear land and break soil , and provided transport to get produce from the country to the railroads . Horse power in the literal sense of the word also helped build hundreds of miles of road and rail tracks in early New Zealand . The stamp shows a farmer ploughing a field with two Clydesdales . New Zealand has an ideal environment for breeding thoroughbreds A temperate climate enables horses to spend most of the year outside and develop good bones and muscular strength , while good grass growth greatly reduces the need for much feeding with artificial supplements The stamp shows a thoroughbred and its foal in a pasture . The 1984 Health stamp issue is being printed by Harrison and Sons Ltd ., England , using the lithography
process All stamps in the set will be of horizontal format and measure 42 mm x 25 mm. Miniature sheets containing two sets of each stamp and measuring 148 mm x 74 mm will be availab le at a cost of $1 .68 each . Plate / imprint positional or value blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps of each denomination . The stamps will remain on sale at Post Offices until September 25 , 1984 , and at the Philatelic Bureau , Private Bag , Wanganui and Philatelic Sales Centres until June 30 , 1985 , unless stocks are exhausted earlier Unaddressed First Day Covers (also designed by Margaret Chapman) may be obtained from August 1 -10 inclusive from Chief Post Offices and certain other Post Offices , or they can be pre-ordered from July 12 at any Post Office Orders for First Day Covers at the Philatelic Bureau close on the day of issueAugust 11
Scenic
Four of New Zealand 's finest ski near the popular tourist resort of daily patronage of up to 8 ,500 fields are the subject of the 1984 Queenstown in the south of the Fifty club lodges provide on-field Scenic stamp issue to be released South Island accommodation while the Chateau on June 6 They are Mount Hutt (35 The ski field , about 16 kilometres Tongariro, at the base of the cents) ; Coronet Peak (40 cents) ; from the town , is wide and open , its mountain , caters for the luxury end of Turoa (45 cents) and Whakapapa (70 slopes offering a multitude of runs for the market. The nearest town is cents) every grade of skier A double National Park , 22 kilometres away
Designed by Don Little of Auckland , chairlift takes skiers right to the top of Skiing is now among the fastest the stamps each show an aspect of the 1646 metre high mountain while growing sports in New Zealand and facilities offered at the f ields along other runs are accessed by a triple an important part of the national with a figure representing the chairlift , pomas and rope tows tourist industry Between 1981 and different types of skier attracted to At each of the New Zealand 1983 , ski package sales to Australia the slopes . commercial fields , a large number of went up by 107 percent , to the United Following the tradition established by highly trained instructors are on hand States by 225 percent and to Japan previous Scenic issues , two of the during the winter season to offer by 79 percent. scenes (Mount Hutt and Coronet instruction for everyone from With new fields constantly being Peak) are in the South Island of New beginners to advanced skiers. developed and improved facilities at Zealand and two (Turoa and Turoa skifield is one of three established ski fields , the future of Whakapapa) in the North Island All clustered around Mount Ruapehu , the New Zealand ski industry four are commercial fields of right in the centre of New Zealand 's appears particularly bright. international standard North Island Established as a The stamps were printed by Cambec Mount Hutt , 117 kilometres from commercial field in 1976 , Turoa is the Press Pty Ltd , Australia , using Christchursh , is renowned for its newest in the country and also has lithography They are produced in superb views and the length of its the distinction of offering the longest sheets of 100 (10 rows of 10) , and skiing season - in a good year this developed vertical rise (720 metres) . plate/ imprint positional or value lasts from May through to early Excellent facilities are available both blocks may be obtained by December . at the field and the nearby town of purchasing at least six stamps of all From Methven , the road to the ski Ohakune Two triple chairs , a T bar denominations Unless stocks are field first crosses the flat Canterbury and rope tows provide access to the exhausted earlier , they will remain on Plains then rises steeply over 1200 ski field which offers challenging runs sale at Post Offices and at the metres in 14 kilometres for intermediate and advanced skiers Philatelic Bureau (mail orders) and Leaving the car park and day lodge One popular run , which involves Philatelic Sales Centres until June 11, at 1586 metres , you can ski down to some climbing , takes skiers over the 1985 . the start of a triple chairlift , or take mountain , past the steaming lake in First Day Covers, also designed by either of the two doubleT bars which the volcanic crater , and down to the Don Little , will cost $1 98 This issue offer a total of 655 metres vertical Whakapapa field on the other side. will also feature a special skiing Mount Hutt is the smallest of Whakapapa (70c stamp) offers an presentation pack the four ski fields featured on the exciting and varied ski area with stamps , but generally good snow and something for all grades of skier One weather conditions combine to make of the first fields to be established , it it one of the most reliable has the most extensive range of lifts Coronet Peak (40c stamp) is situated and other facilities , catering for a
Special Topic Stamp Issue
Several of New Zealand 's fascinating reptiles and a native amphibian are to feature in a special stamp issue , " Endangered Animal Wildlife ". The five stamps, to be released on July 11, show the rare Hamilton 's Frog (24 cents) ; Great Barrier Skink (24 cents); Harlequin Gecko (30 cents) ; Otago Skink (58 cents) ; and Goldstriped Gecko (70 cents). The two 24c stamps will be printed se-tenant. All the designs are by Allan Mitchell . of Wellington .
While New Zealand has only a small number of amphibian and reptile species in comparison with many other countries, they are of considerable zoological significance .
All our native amphibians , and many of the reptiles are rare - several are classified as endangered . The worldfamous "living fossil", the tuatara , has enjoyed strict legal protection since 1895 ; native frogs since 1922 lt was not until 1981 , however , that the same protection was extended to all but four species of lizard . Hamilton 's Frog is one of three
species of native New Zealand frog and is regarded as being among the rarest amphibians in the world
Found on only two small islands in the Cook Strait region, the frog was first discovered on Stephen 's Island in 1915 and later named Leiopelma hamiltoni after Mr M . Hamilton of the Dominion Museum who collected the first specimens
Sightings of the species over the following years were rare - indeed Hamilton 's Frog was thought at one time to be extinct - but more were subsequently discovered and in 1958 a second colony was found on Maud Island in Pelorous Sound
L. hamiltoni 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. Also unusual is the fact that , like all of New Zealand ' s native frogs , they do not produce tadpoles but hatch as small , already formed froglets . Bo th populations of Hamilton 's Frog are now in strictly controlled sanctuaries providing
additional protection in their isolated and relatively inaccessible island homes
Another island dweller , the Great Barrier Skink , features on a second , se-tenant , 24c stamp in the Wildlife issue . One of the rarest of New Zealand lizards , Leiolopisma homalonotum is now found only on Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland Despite considerable searching , only 35 of these skinks have been seen in the last ten years
This is New Zealand 's largest skink , growing up to 400mm in length . Great Barrier Skinks live within stands of native and exotic forest on the island , sheltering under logs, stones , or even in water if disturbed The Harlequin Gecko , Hoplodactylus rakiurae , which is seen on the 30c stamp , only became known to science in 1981 They are found only in the southern part of Stewart Island , making this the southernmost naturally occurring gecko in the world
lt is one of the most spectacularly patterned of New Zealand geckos , and also the rarest with only about a dozen ever seen . New Zealand geckos are generally thought to be among the most primitive types in the world, and they display several unique features They produce living young while all other geckos , with the exception of some in New Caledonia , lay eggs . Another difference is that while New Zealand geckos can produce some audible sound , they are not usually as vocal as their overseas relatives They do however share the unblinking stare of all geckos and the same remarkable ability to climb smooth hard surfaces
The Otago Skink , Leiolopisma otagense , (58c stamp) is another rare lizard which , unusually, chooses a sub-alpine habitat , the tussock country of Otago in the South Island In daytime these large skinks , some over 300mm long , come out to bask on sunny outcrops They are very
wary , their only defence being to run survival of New Zealand 's unique away if disturbed fauna Greater public awareness can One major threat to many New also play an important part , say the Zealand reptiles is the destruction of experts , in helping to conserve the their natural habitat as more and habitats that support these rare and more land is brought into productive endangered species farming use . Another problem is The five "Endangered Animal introduced predators which , in Otago , Wildlife " stamps were printed by include ferrets, stoats , rats , and Cambec Press Pty. Ltd . of Australia , perhaps most dangerous , wild cats using the lithography process The The Gold-striped Gecko , stamps are of horizontal format , Hoplodactylus chrysosireticus , (70c measuring 42 mm x 30 mm , and are stamp) is also known as the Taranaki printed in sheets of 100 (10 rows of gecko . lt is now found in only two 10) . Plate/ imprint positional or value areas , Taranaki province and on blocks may be obtained by Mana Island , both in the west of the purchasing at least six stamps . North Island . The stamps will remain on sale at These small geckos , up to 140mm in Post Offices until September 25,1984 , length , are mainly nocturnal and so and at the Post Office Philatelic few have been seen that their natural Bureau , Wanganui (mail orders) and habitat remains uncertain lt has also Philatelic Sales Centres until July 31 , been difficult to determine the 1985 , unless stocks are exhausted numbers of this species , but they earlier. have been successfully bred in captivity as a conservation measure . Most wildlife experts recognise that legal protections are not the complete answer in ensuring the
Stamps Available
Stamps are available by mail order from the Ph ilatelic Bureau, Wanganui , or over the counter from Philatelic Sales Centres at Auckland,Christchurch,Wellington ,
Dunedin, Hamilton, Rotorua and Gisborne. "ARMS" (Set $28 00) $4 , $6 , $8 , $10
,
DEFINITIVES (Set $1 90) 1c , 2c , 3c ,
Withdrawals
,
30 April1984 : RITA ANGUS PAINTINGS (Set $1 34) 24c , 30c , 3Sc , 4Sc
30 April 1984 : COMMONWEALTH DAY (Set $1.44) 24c , 3Sc , 40c , 4Sc .
30 April1984 :1983 COMMEMORATIVE (Set $1 .74) 24c ,30c , 3Sc , 40c ,4Sc .
1 May 1984 : 1983 TOKELAU TRADITIONAL GAMES (Set $2 .18 ) Ss , 18s , 23s , 34s , 63s , ?Ss
S June 1984 : 1983 SCENIC (Set $1 .90) 3Sc , 40c , 4Sc , 70c .
30 June 1984 : 1983
Supply of Plate Blocks
The October 1983 Philatelic I Bulletin contained an item ! regarding supply of plate blocks and also mentioned that a standing order service is available for customers who wish to receive plate/ imprint blocks of new plates and reprints. Further information about this service is available from the Philatelic Bureau , Private Bag , Wanganul. A plate block list and order form , which is updated monthly, is also available and will be majled on request.
West German Philatelic Agenc
Richard Borek , Agenturen of Braunschweig , Federal Republic of Germany, has been appointed philatelic agent for the New Zealand Post Office in West Germany (including West Berlin) and Austria. The agency will be responsible for the promotion and distribution of New Zealand philatelic material to individual philatelists , wholesale and retail outlets.
The establishment of a New Zealand agent will widen the opportunities for the millions of German speaking philatelists to buy N.Z. stamps . Customers in these regions , both individuals and dealers , who currently receive their philatelic requirements direct from the N.Z.P.O. Philatelic Bureau , Wanganui, will continue to do so. They may, of course , elect to transfer their business to Richard Borek.