Anniversaries 1972

Centenary of Local Government in Wanganui - 3c
The Borough of Wanganui was formed in February 1872, the town was originally called "Petre" but this was unpopular and the original Maori name Wanganui was adopted in 1854.  The town received city status in 1924.  The design features the city crest against a backdrop of Durie Hill with its memorial tower.

The 10th Anniversary of the Asian-Oceanic Postal Union - 4c
This organisation was formed at a meeting in Manila in 1962 with the object of co-operation in postal services of member nations - Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, The Philippines, Laos and Thailand.  The design depicts eight stylised birds representing the members.

The 25th Anniversary of the National Airways Corporation (NAC) - 5c
The National Airways Corporation Act of 1945 established the National Airways Corporation to provide air services for the transport of passengers and goods within New Zealand. Depicted on the stamp are a De Havilland DH89 Dominie and a Boeing 737 aircraft. NAC was merged with Air New Zealand in 1978.

The 200th Anniversary of the Landing by Marion du Fresne in the Bay of Islands - 8c
In April 1772 the two ships of this expedition anchored in the Bay of Islands.  The Maori were friendly and camps were set up on Moturoa Island.  On 6 June du Fresne and 13 men went to visit a neighbouring village but were never seen again. The following day 12 men went ashore to search but only one returned.  It is believed the French may have violated a native tapu.  The design incorporates a silhouette of a 22 gun French frigate together with a portion of the Maori palisade at Motorua.

The 150th Anniversary of the Methodist Church in New Zealand  - 10c
In January 1822 the Reverend Samuel Leigh arrived in New Zealand to start the Wesleyan Methodist Mission at Wesleydale Kaeo, North Auckland.  In May 1822 he was joined by the Reverend William White.  The stone cairn built by the Maori at Kaeo, Northland, to commemorate the site of the first Methodist Mission in New Zealand is depicted on the stamp.

Stamp bulletin

This stamp issue first appeared in New Zealand Post Stamp Bulletin No. 7 in February 1972.

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/