New Zealand 50 cents coin - HMS Endeavour - 2006

KM #: 119a
Metal: Nickel plated steel
Weight: 5 g
Diameter: 24.75 mm
Thickness: 1.7 mm
Engravers: Ian Rank-Broadley (Obverse); George James Berry (Reverse)
Mintage: 70,200,000

On 31 July 2006, as part of a revision of New Zealand's coinage, the fifty cent was made smaller, lighter and of a cheaper alloy (nickel-plated steel). On 1 November of that year the previous larger fifty cent coin was demonetized.

Both the larger and smaller coin featured on its reverse the HMS Endeavour on which Captain Cook became the first Briton to reach New Zealand, in October 1769. The obverse, as per all New Zealand coins, features the reigning monarch, which throughout the coin's mintage has only been Queen Elizabeth II.

Click here to see the old, large-size 50c coin of New Zealand.

Source: wikipedia, en.numista.com

Edwin Fox - World's 9th oldest ship

Date of Issue: March 7, 1990
Scott #: 984

This stamp is one among the six ship stamps showing historic ships of New Zealand. What makes this cover more special is that it is issued in limited quantity autographed by Jack Stace, then President of the Edwin Fox Restoration Committee, and was cacheted on board the vessel on the first day of issue and then postmarked at the Picton Post Office. Many thanks to my friend, Corinne Jennifer, NZ for sending me this cover and increasing value to my collection. She also sent me the pamphlet of the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum (see on right).

some info from the card accompanied the cover... The Edwin Fox is New Zealand's most historic vessel still afloat. She was built at Sukeali in Bengal (India) of solid teak for the British East India Company in 1853.

Historical Significance:  The Edwin Fox is the last surviving vessel built for the British East India Company; the last surviving veteran of the Crimean War; the last surviving vessel to have carried convicts to Australia and the last surviving sailing ship to have carried settlers to Australia and New Zealand.

The Edwin Fox Maritime Museum is located at Dunbar Wharf, Picton Foreshore, Marlborough Sounds.

Tug Lyttelton 1907

This is the first Cinderella stamp in my collection. Many thanks to my friend Corinne Pegler for sending me this sheet.

What is a Cinderella Stamp? - Definition from Wikipedia - "Virtually anything resembling a postage stamp, but not issued for postal purposes by a government postal administration..." The term also excludes imprinted stamps on postal stationery.  Cinderella stamps are not normally listed in the main stamp collecting catalogs. If they are, it is usually in a separate appendix within the publication, and so they are sometimes called back of the book stamps.

This sheet with four stamps shows the tug Lyttelton at Lyttelton harbor, the tug at sea, the tug in Akaroa Harbor, and the tug passing Akaroa lighthouse. This was issued by the Tug Lyttelton Preservation Society in 1990, and all proceeds from the sale of these stamps go towards helping to maintain tug Lyttelton.

Source: Wikipedia.

Sir Peter Blake (1948 - 2001)

Date of Issue: November 25, 2009

New Zealand post issued this set of five stamps, miniature sheet, and limited edition imperforated miniature sheets, presentation packs etc., for Sir Peter James Blake - an inspirational leader, brilliant yachtsman, record breaker, passionate Kiwi and ardent environmentalist.

Sir Peter Blake was a New Zealand yachtsman who won the Whitbread Round the World Race (now known as Volvo Round the World Race), the Jules Verne Trophy – setting the fastest time around the world of 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds on catamaran Enza, and led his country to successive victories in the America’s Cup.

Sir Peter was on the Amazon River monitoring environment change when he was murdered in Brazil on 6th December 2001.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand (Rt. Hon. Helen Clark) called Sir Peter a living legend and a national hero in her eulogy she said in part:

Our small nation went into shock. Peter Blake was a living legend. As an outstanding sailor, he had brought great honour and fame to New Zealand. His death was unthinkable.

Sir Peter Blake is buried at Warblington churchyard, near Emsworth on the south coast of England. His headstone bears the words of John Masefield's famous poem, Sea Fever: "I must down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and sky, and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by....".

Text source: wikipedia

Many thanks to my swap partner and friend, Ms. Corinne Pegler from New Zealand for sending me this beautiful set of stamps.

The Navigators - 1992 Commemorative Issue New Zealand

Date of Issue: March 12, 1992
Scott #: 1089 - 1092

This set of four stamps are issued to commemorate 500th anniversary of discovery of America by Columbus as well as 350th anniversary of sighting of New Zealand by Abel Tasman.

Details given on the back of the FDC - The Navigators - In small, wooden sailing boats, European navigators explored the world's oceans using only the stars as a guide. During the long months at sea, food shortages, illness, mutinies, and battles took their toll on officers and crew alike. Despite such handicaps, seafaring explorers charted the oceans, discovering new lands, and opening up valuable trade routes.

The navigators stamp issue commemorates the sighting of New Zealand by Abel Tasman in 1642 and the sighting of the America by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The stamps depict Tasman's two ships, the flagship Heemskerck and the Zeehaen, and Columbus' three ships - the Santa Maria, captained by Columbus, the pinta, and the Nina.

The stamps and first day cover were designed by Geoff Fuller of Havelock North.

Rowing, 1996 Summer Olympics, Atlanta

Date of Issue: July 10, 1996
Scott # for stamp: 1377

This stamp which shows rowing is one of the five stamps issued in this series to commemorate Summer Olympics held at Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. in 1996.

The maxi card shows Lynley Hannen and Nicola Payne, coxless pairs, who won bronze medal at 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

Thanks to Ms. Corinne J. Pegler, NewZealand for sending me this maxi card.

1993 - 94 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race

Date of Issue: January 19, 1994
Scott #: 1198

Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, now known as Volvo Ocean Race, as Volvo being the current sponsor (from 2001); is a yacht race around the world held once every three years.

In 1972 England's Whitbread company and the British Royal Naval Sailing Association agreed to sponsor a globe-circling regatta, which would be called the "Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race”.

The winner of the 1993-94 race was NewZeland's Endeavour and the skipper of the team was Grant Dalton.

Thanks to Ms. Corinne J. Pegler, NewZealand for sending me this stamp.

Click here to see Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 Souvenir Sheet issued by Ireland, the winner of the race.

Source: wikipedia

John Wickliffe and Philip Laing

Date of Issue: February 23, 1948
Scott #: 269

This stamp was issued to commemorate centenary of settlement in the Otago Province.

The two ships - John Wickliffe and Philip Laing are the first to carry settlers from England to Otago Province in New Zealand in 1848. The picture used in the stamp is taken from an 1898 painting by Captain D O Robertson. The Philip Laing sails into Port Chalmers on 15 April 1848, joining the John Wickliffe, which had arrived on 23 March.

Navy Ships - New Zealand

(Click image to view larger picture)

Date of Issue: November 06, 1985

This FDC with neat cancellation with the Souvenir Sheet showing ships that served over years for The Royal New Zealand Navy with its emblem on the cover and the souvenir sheet with map showing the route in which the ANZCAN (abbreviation for Australia-New Zealand-Canada) Cable laid.

Denom. - Name of Ship - Period of service in Navy
25c - HMNZS Philomel - 1914 - 1947
45c - HMNZS Achilles - 1936 - 1946
60c - HMNZS Rotoiti - 1949 - 1965
75c - HMNZS Canterbury - 1971 - 2005 (source: wikipedia)

The ship found in the Souvenir Sheet was HMNZS Monowai 1978 - 1997 (Source: Wikipedia)

Note: HMNZS - Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship

Scott catalogue number for this Souvenir Sheet: 842 a

Click here for more details on ANZCAN Cable.

HMNZS Rotoiti (F425) was a Loch class frigate of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Interesting Facts:

HMNZS Achilles
Achilles was originally built for the Royal Navy, and was commissioned as HMS Achilles on 10 October 1933. She served with the Royal Navy's New Zealand Division from 31 March 1937 up to the creation of the Royal New Zealand Navy, into which she was transferred in September 1941, renamed as HMNZS Achilles.

Achilles was returned to the Royal Navy at Sheerness, Kent, England on 17 September 1946. She was then sold to the Indian Navy and recommissioned on 5 July 1948 as INS Delhi. She remained in service until decommissioned for scrap at Bombay on 30 June 1978. As part of the scrapping, her Y turret was removed and presented as a gift to the New Zealand Government. It is now on display at the entrance of Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.

HMNZS Monowai
HMNZS Monowai (A06) was a hydrographic survey vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

During her naval service she was known as the "ghost of the coast", as she quietly remapped most of the New Zealand coastline including the Chatham, Cambell, and Auckland Islands, as well as the many sub-Antarctic islands in New Zealand's responsibility. She also acted as a resupply vessel to Campbell and other sub-Antarctic island, served as an "official residence" for VIPs and dignitaries at Pacific Island conferences, monitored Chinese missile splashdown tests, stood by Fiji after military coups with a platoon of naval gunners to assist in possible NZ civilian evacuations, participated in the ANZCAN cable route survey and in international searches for sea mounts and shoals. She carried a helicopter and undertook rescue or aid missions, saving the lives of eight people during the New Zealand to Tonga Yacht Regatta.