Glacier Tramping In New Zealand

After watching a debate on TV about censoring the hate speech on social media, and then continuing to have this debate amongst ourselves, a relaxing view like this was very much needed. Sometimes I really wish to get away from it all, the human primitivity that still very much exists under a cloak of technological progress. New Zealand definitely springs to mind as the final destination..! Though I'd probably never climb a glacier. My adventures are limited to surviving in my own country.

Once again thanks goes to Tianyi Shi :)

Emperor Penguins At Atka Bay

Atka Bay is an iceport about 16 km long and wide, marking a more-or-less permanent indentation in the front of the Ekstrom Ice Shelf on the coast of Queen Maud Land (a dependent territory of Norway). Why does it feature on New Zealand postcards I have no idea, but I love penguins and its a great photo, thank you Susan!

Tuatara

Have posted about one of these cool guys already, but whats the harm in reminding oneself of just how interesting they are? :) Because, as much as tuatara looks like a lizard, it is not - its close, but still. Tuatara are reptiles endemic to New Zealand, and are part of a distinct lineage, the order Rhynchocephalia (which, in fact, includes only two living species of tuatara). Their name derives from the Māori language and means "peaks on the back". Like many of New Zealand's native animals, they are threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators, such as the Polynesian rat. They were extinct on the mainland, with the remaining populations confined to 32 offshore islands; until the first mainland release into the heavily fenced and monitored Karori Sanctuary in 2005.

A success story for the survival of this unique species, relatively so but some help is better than none..! Many thanks to Amy, also for the Year of the Monkey stamp :)

 

Smaug The Magnificent

Smaug is the primary antagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit - he is a powerful, intelligent, malevolent and fearsome dragon who invaded the Dwarf kingdom of Erebor 150 years prior to the events described in the novel. A group of 13 Dwarves mounted a quest to take the kingdom back, aided by the wizard Gandalf (on the stamp) and the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins. 

What a card! Dragons have always been among my favourite fantastic creatures, and it makes me kind of sad that they are really relentless and dangerous. Thanks so much Adrienne :)

Merino Rams, New Zealand

We all kind of know that sheep farming is one of the main industries in New Zealand ( newest statictics say, there are about 10 sheep per individual ) :) But here is something about Merino - is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. The breed is originally from Alentejo, south Portugal, from where it was introduced to Spain; its wool was already highly valued in the Middle Ages. Today, Merinos are still regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep.

Many thanks to Tianyi Shi, who had a studying term in the kiwiland earlier this year :)

Btw the coolness of these merino sheep is very close to that of the highland cows..!

Scott Base, Anctarctica, New Zealand

And how much do I love this card?! Such a splendid view of the Scott Base, a research facility located on Ross Island in Antarctica and operated by New Zealand, with Mt. Erebus in the background  (with 3794 metres the second highest volcano in Antarctica).

What also made me really happy is the Ross Dependency stamp issued in 2013, this is info on wikipedia but since the cancellation doesn't say its posted from Christchurch I guess the info on its usability is wrong..? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamps_and_postal_history_of_the_Ross_Dependency

In any case many many thanks to Amy!

Mount Cook Lily, New Zealand

Actually not a lily, but a Mountain Buttercup, this is a species endemic to New Zealand, where it occurs in the South Island and on Stewart Island at altitudes of 700–1500 m. This photo may possibly have been taken in the Mount Cook National Park area, which would make it an Unesco whs site, as I've just realised :)) Many thanks to Susan for this heart-warming view..!

 

Queensland Lake District, New Zealand

A fantastic photography from New Zealand's South Island sent by Heather - and your choice of different stamps for each card you send has been discussed and hailed lol thanks!

Native Birds Of New Zealand

These beauties are as follows...Tui, one of the finest songsters in New Zealand; Bellbird, so named because of its bell-like call; Wood Pigeon, which once formed a staple item of early Maori food; Kea, well known by trampers for its comical antics and inquisitive nature; Kiwi, New Zealand's national bird seldom seen in daylight; and Red Crown Parakeet, normally found on offshore islands living in the native bush.

Thank you Kassie :)

Maori War Canoe, New Zealand

In Māori tradition, Ngātokimatawhaorua was one of the great ocean-going, voyaging canoes that was used in the migrations that settled New Zealand. Its name means 'the Adzes which shaped it twice'. This is the world's largest war canoe, built in 1940 for the centennial commemoration of the Treaty of Waitangi. 

The 35-metre canoe carries a crew of 90 paddlers.

Thank you Sue, and for the fantastic Hobbit/Gandalf stamp! :))

Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

 

Another surprise card which waited for me over the winter is this amazing view of the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys created by a combination of land subsidence and rising sea levels, situated at the north of the South Island of New Zealand.

I always love new Zealand views, they are gorgeous without a miss - thank you yet again Heather :)) Love the stamps too, and of course the 'Middle-earth' cancellation xD

Two Blue Penguins, New Zealand

Today is a bird day on my blog :)) With two fascinating species! First is penguins (have you ever seen The March Of The Penguins? A must!), this time the Little Penguins, in New Zealand known as Blue Penguins. The little ones are waiting in a cave, their nesting place, while their parents search for food. Thank you for these cuties Aaron! :)

UNESCO - Te Wahipounamu - Milford Sound, New Zealand

Te Wāhipounamu is a WH Site situated in the south-west corner of the New Zealand's South Island. It covers an area of 26,000 km² and incorporates four national parks - one of them is Fiordland NP, Milford Sound being its most visited fjord. The Māori named the sound Piopiotahi after the thrush-like piopio bird, now extinct.

Milford Sound runs 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or more on either side. Its waters are frequented by seals, penguins, dolphins, and sometimes even whales!

This absolutely stunning view (and another reminder why I fell in love with New Zealand before actually going there) is a wonderful surprise from dear Adrienne - and the set of stamps is great, thanks so much!! xD

New Zealand - Native Animals

Two absolutely gorgeous animal cards from Adrienne!

Such a strange and unique bird, the kiwi. I still remember seeing it in a zoo in Germany as a kid - it was the most exciting experience of the day-trip. We had to enter a dark hallway, and were told there is only a slight chance we'll actually see one. And there it was, so outworldly and cute <3

Tuatara is actually not a lizard, but a part of a separate distinctive lineage...which flourished some 200 million years ago. Wow. The average life span is 60 years, but they can live to be over 100 y.o. Needless to say, its an endemic species of New Zealand, as well as the kiwi. What an amazing place to watch wiildlife..!!

Thank you so much Adrienne, and for the round kiwi stamps :)))

Constellation Southern Cross, New Zealand

Southern Cross is an English name for Crux, the smallest of the 88 modern constellations, easily seen from the southern hemisphere. The brightest four of the five stars appear on the flags of Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

I love the starry sky! Its been a while since I looked at a stellar map so am getting a bit rusty, but can still discern certain constellations and it feels pretty good xD Thank you Annie/wildfire for this cool card!

YOTD Stamps And UNESCO - New Zealand

Mt. Ngauruhoe is one of the three active volcanoes situated in Tongariro National Park, in the central North Island of New Zealand. The NP is the first property to be inscribed on the WHS list under the revised criteria describing cultural landscapes, back in 1993 - the mountains have cultural and religious significance for the native Maori people.

Thank you Adrienne, this card is amazing and so is the YOTD stamp! :)



A Maori Woman With A Child, New Zealand

Ana Rupene and Child (1978), Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki;

by Gottfried Lindauer (1839-1926)

Gottfried Lindauer was a New Zealand artist of Czech descent, famous for his portraits of prominent Maori. These portraits accurately record the facial tattoos, clothing, ornaments and weapons of the Maori.

Ana is 'Ana Reupene Whetuki' married to Reupene Whetuki, a Ngāti Maru rangatira. Ana is remembered by the whānau as 'Werohia' meaning 'to challenge'. Ana's life dates remain unknown at this time. What is known however is that she lived and died at Parakau, Manaia  and lived through distinct and rapid changes to her Māori life ways. 

The child's name is yet to be remembered and it is estimated that he lived to be about 14-18 years. It is said he had a supernumerary congenital condition meaning he had an extra toe on each foot. The family recount that this child had a gift for reciting whakapapa.

Interesting stories behind this painting - thank you Annie/wildlife for choosing this card! :)) 

UNESCO - Te Wahipounamu - Mount Cook, New Zealand

This absolutely gorgeous view of Mount Cook reminds me why i always dreamed of visiting New Zealand :) Perfect nature, perfect photo...perfect sheep? ;)

It was my idea that, if i ever end up in cul-de-sac of life i would just move to New Zealand with one bag of basics and start all over again as a sheep-shearer. Then i learnt in the (highly recommended by my modest-self) book by Polly Evans 'Kiwis might Fly' that it is actually not that easy; one rather needs to be very VERY fit. And there goes my plan....but the plan of visiting still stands!

I was lucky enough to tag Sylvia/dutchkiwi in one of the offer tags for this card :)))

Upon revision I have realised that the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is one of the four national parks encompassed in Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand Unesco WHS site.