2012 Children's Health: New Zealand Sea Lion

The 2012 Children’s Health stamp issue featured the New Zealand sea lion. This playful mammal is one of the rarest species of sea lion in the world, and just like all children, it needs our ongoing care and attention in order to thrive.

New Zealand Post was proud to continue supporting Te Puna Whaiora – The New Zealand Foundation for Child and Family Health and Development with its annual Children’s Health stamp issue. Each stamp in the issue carried a 10-cent surcharge that supported the fundamental work that Te Puna Whaiora undertakes to ensure that vulnerable children and their families have a brighter future.

Sea lions live all over the world – in the wild, in marine parks, and sometimes even in cities. However, the New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) or whakahao lives only in New Zealand and is sadly listed as nationally critical. The success of this ‘at risk’ species is dependent on helping hands – just as vulnerable children are dependent on Health Camps nationwide and the support of loved ones in order to thrive.

The New Zealand sea lion breeds mainly in New Zealand’s Sub-Antarctic Islands, however a slow return to mainland New Zealand is now occurring. A small number now breed on the Otago coast, where 45 pups were born between 1994 and 2010. This intelligent mammal can also be found on Stewart Island (Rakiura).

The highlight of the 2012 Children’s Health stamp issue was the miniature sheet, which took the shape of a mother and pup. The mother is shown sniffing her pup for recognition before taking her for feeding. Just like children, pups are dependent on their mothers for protection, and this unique product portrays the close relationship they share.  It was also the only way to obtain the self-adhesive stamp in a gummed format.

Product Listing for 2012 Children's Health: New Zealand Sea Lion

Image	Title	Description	Price
	Single Stamp	Single 70c + 10c surcharge  'pup' gummed stamp. A New Zealand sea lion pup in the Sub-Antarctic Islands is the focus of the 70c gummed stamp. Females give birth to single pups every one or two years, and pups are born in December and January each year.	$0.80
	Single Stamp	Single  $1.40 + 10c surcharge 'sub-adult male' gummed stamp. The $1.40 gummed stamp featured a sub-adult male on Stewart Island. Male sea lions are typically brown/black in colour and grow to 350-500 kilograms. All New Zealand sea lions are known for their blunt noses and short whiskers.	$1.50
	Single Stamp	Single 70c + 10c surcharge 'pup' self-adhesive stamp. An inquisitive pup is featured on the 70c self-adhesive stamp. As pups grow older, they travel up to 175 kilometres from the coast to feed, and dive to depths of up to 600 metres. This self-adhesive stamp was also conveniently available in a sheet of 100 - perfect for your postage needsself-adhesive).	$0.80
	Miniature Sheet	Mint, used or cancelled miniature sheet.	$3.10
	First Day Cover	First day cover with two gummed stamps and one self-adhesive stamp affixed.	$3.60
	Miniature Sheet First Day Cover	First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed.	$3.60