We take a numerical journey from 1 to 21 in a ‘Kiwi’ way with the Counting in Kiwi stamp issue. With each number, you’ll discover unique and quirky aspects of New Zealand’s culture, history and Kiwiana. Each of the 21 stamps in the issue has a distinctive ‘Kiwi’ flavour.
Of course, we start at number 1, which is represented by State Highway 1 – the road that runs the length of both the North and South Islands. As we count higher, we discover snippets of the New Zealand way of life until we reach 21 – the milestone birthday that is widely celebrated in New Zealand with a traditional 21st key.
This fun issue appeared as a miniature sheet containing all 21 stamps. It was accompanied by a set of three First Day Covers covering all of the stamps in the set.
1: State Highway 1, running the length of New Zealand. From the cape (Cape Reinga) to the Bluff (Bottom of the South Island) it is often said following the whole length of State Highway 1.
2: Two Jandals, they come in pairs, one for each foot. Usually made of plastic, these are great summer and beach footwear, being low in cost and easy to slip on and off.
3: Three-hour ferry ride across Cook Strait between the North and South Islands. Owned by the railways, these ferries link the two main islands carrying passengers, rail vehicles and road vehicles between Wellington and Picton.
4: Four prominent stars in the Southern Cross Constellation. This cross also appears on New Zealand's flag. Compared to many this constellation is rather small but seen only in the southern sky, visible in New Zealand all year round, it is one of the easiest ways to find true south.
5: Five years old, off to school. All children start school at age five in New Zealand.
6: Six runs in cricket for out of the park. Hit it over the fence gives an automatic six runs, you are not required to run them.
7: Seven netballers in a team.
8: Number 8 fencing wire / Kiwi inventiveness. Number 8 wire was a popular wire for farm fences and being a softer, easily workable wire it was handy for many uses and repairs. Number Eight Mentality is the idea something can be repaired or made out of items lying around the workshop, garage or farm. The downside of this is large numbers of old items being kept cluttering work areas, "in case they might be used later."
9: Dressed to the nines at the races. Well dressed up, sparing nothing to look the part.
10: Ten Guitars / Engelbert Humperdinck's Kiwi anthem of the 1960s. You often hear this song being played on the side-show rides at country A & P shows.
11: Soccer First 11.
12: One dozen Bluff oysters. Best oysters in the world! Yummmm!
13: A baker's dozen Lamingtons. Little cubes of sponge cake dipped in liquid chocolate and coated in shredded coconut. A baker's dozen is one extra thrown in.
14: National Parks in New Zealand. A large number for such a small country.
15: Fifteen players in a rugby team. Leading to terms such as "1st Fifteen."
16: Sixteen-year-olds can get a New Zealand driver's licence. But they still need to drive carefully! I had my licence very soon after I turned 15 (as it was then). I drivers licence meant freedom and another milestone in growing up.
17: Captain Cook landed in New Zealand in 1769. Cook was not the first person to discover New Zealand but he is the one who mapped most of our coastline.
See our collection of Capt. Cook stamps - Captain Cook Stamps of New Zealand.
18: Eighteen-year-olds are eligible to vote in New Zealand parliamentary elections. Your right to vote is an important part of New Zealand democracy. We hold elections every three years and everyone is supposed to vote, it is an unenforced offence not to.
19: Nineteen protected surf breaks. New Zealanders have a love of the water. Many go to the beach during the summer. The more dangerous ones are patrolled during the busy months with many being saved each year.
20: The $20 note features the Queen and the Karearea (Falco Novaeseelandiae).
21: Coming of age. 21 years old, you get the key to the door.
Technical information:
Date of issue:
| 10 August 2011 |
|---|---|
The number of stamps:
| 21 gummed stamps |
Denominations:
| 21 x 60c |
Stamps and first day covers designed by:
| Assignment Group, Wellington, New Zealand |
Printer and process:
| Southern Colour Print Ltd by offset lithography |
The number of colours:
| Four process colours |
Stamp size and format:
| 30mm x 35mm (vertical) |
Paper type:
| Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
The number of stamps per sheet:
| 21 |
Perforation gauge:
| 14 |
Special blocks:
| Plate/Imprint blocks, A and B barcode blocks, and logo and value blocks will be supplied as one sheet of 21 stamps |
Period of sale:
| Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, these stamps will remain on sale until 9 August 2013 |
One of those strange issues New Zealand Post likes to do.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with you.
ReplyDeleteThis set really does nothing for me either.
Brian.