1980 Anniversaries

Three stamps commemorating the 125th anniversary of the first New Zealand stamp issue were designed by D A Hatcher, these stamps were Incorporated into the special miniature sheet.  The remaining three stamps, designed by R M Conly, commemorated the Centenary of Rotorua and the International Orchid Conference and the World Ploughing Championships which were both held in New Zealand in 1980.

14c x 3
A set of three stamps printed se tenant marked the 125th anniversary of the first New Zealand postage stamps.  The stamps featured reproductions of the first New Zealand stamps depicting Queen Victoria.

Centenary of Rotorua - 17c
A montage of scenes characteristic of Rotorua commemorating the centenary of an agreement between the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court and local Maori Chiefs to establish a township near Ohinemutu on 25 November 1880.

International Orchid Conference - 25c
Held in Auckland in October 1980 - the stamp design depicted enlarged versions of Earina autumnalis and Thelymitra venosa.

World Ploughing Championships - 30c
Held at Lincoln Agricultural College near Christchurch in May 1980, the World Ploughing Championships involved ploughmen and supporters from Europe, Asia and the Americas, as well as those from Australasia.  The stamp included a representation of the Golden Plough trophy.

Miniature Sheet - 52c
The three stamps issued to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the first New Zealand postage stamps were also issued in a special miniature sheet which helped offset the costs of staging the Zeapex '80 International Stamp Exhibition at Auckland in August 1980.

Stamp Bulletin

This stamp issue first appeared in New Zealand Post Stamp Bulletin No. 22 in October 1979.

Acknowledgments: Bulletin scanned and provided by John Biddlecombe of the New Zealand Society of Great Britain. Their web site offers further information useful to those interested in the stamps and postal history of New Zealand. Link: http://www.nzsgb.org.uk/