Our 2003 Scenic - Waterways stamp issue celebrated our waterways, particularly in light of two very special occasions - the United Nations International Year of Freshwater and the 50th anniversary of the Photographic Society of New Zealand.
Issue information
Water surrounds our nation and criss-crosses our countryside in a myriad of rivers, lakes and streams. It offers recreational opportunities and is transformed to generate most of our electricity supply. It yields an abundance of fish for our tables and sustains a tourism industry second to none. In short, it is part of our lifeblood - essential to our economic, social and environmental wellbeing.
Nature at its Best
All five stamps featured on the 2003 Scenic - Waterways first day cover, complemented with a photograph of Lake Wahapo, located on the South Island's West Coast and formed when ice melted 20,000 years ago.
50th Anniversary of the Photographic Society of New Zealand
All five 2003 Scenic - Waterways stamps depicted photographs taken by members of the Photographic Society of New Zealand - Jack Sprosen, Breen Porter, Brian Cudby, Lynn Clayton and Matheson Beaumont.
Formed over 50 years ago, the Society promoted the advancement of the photographic science and art in New Zealand and overseas. Its activities range from interclub and inter-secondary school competitions to national exhibitions and conventions. It also stores a permanent collection of its members' works, and every year produces a highly sought-after book of photographic images.
Product Listing for 2003 Scenic - Waterways
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 40c 'Papaaroha, Coromandel Peninsula' gummed stamp. Travel to the tip of the North Island's Coromandel Peninsula and you'll find Papaaroha. From the stunning pohutukawa-shaded golden sands of the beach, you can view or visit a cluster of offshore islands, ideal for picnicking, rock-hopping and rock fishing. |
$0.40 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 90c 'Waimahana Creek, Chatham Islands' gummed stamp. Waimahana Creek flows into the Whanga Basin on Chatham Island - one of ten islands comprising the Chatham Islands, almost 850 kilometres east of mainland New Zealand. The Islands are home to rare and unique fauna and flora, including the world's rarest seabird, the Chatham Island taiko. |
$0.90 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.30 'Blue Lake, Central Otago' gummed stamp. The Blue Lake can be found in St Bathans in Central Otago, its distinctive colour reflecting the minerals in its water. The lake was made more than 100 years ago by gold miners, who dug at a 120-metre high hill until it became a 69-metre deep pit. When the mining stopped, the hole filled with water - and today the lake is a popular destination for swimming and jet skiing. |
$1.30 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.50 'Waikato River, Waikato' gummed stamp. The 425-kilometre Waikato River is New Zealand's longest, rising on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu as the Tongariro River before flowing north through Lake Taupo, tumbling over Huka Falls and heading north-west to enter the Tasman Sea south of Auckland. The river churns through eight power stations between Taupo and Karapiro, providing a major source of hydroelectric power for the North Island. |
$1.50 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $2.00 'Hooker River, Canterbury' gummed stamp. The Hooker River is just one of the spectacular sights along the Hooker Valley Walk, one of the most popular in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand's South Island. The walk offers unsurpassed vistas of Aoraki/Mount Cook's south face and the surrounding glaciers, crossing the turbulent Hooker River by swingbridge. |
$2.00 |
 |
First Day Cover | First day cover with stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $6.60 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 6 August 2003 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Five |
| Denominations and designs: | 40c Papaaroha, Coromandel Peninsula; 90c Waimahana Creek, Chatham Islands; $1.30 Blue Lake, Central Orago; $1.50 Waikato River, Waikato; $2.00 Hooker River, Canterbury |
| Stamps and first day cover designed by: | DNA Design, Wellington. |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print, Dunedin by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Five colours, four process colours and one special |
| Stamp size and format: | 40mm x 30mm (landscape) |
| Paper type: | Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor stamp paper |
| Perforation gauge: | 14.25 |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 50 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode, value blocks and logo blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least two stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in both A and B format. |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 5 August 2004. |