Scenic stamps mark centennial

Press, 20 May 1987, Page 47

Scenic stamps mark centennial

Four scenic, stamps marking the centennial of New Zealand’s national parks will be released on June 17. The stamps feaure the Urewera and Tongariro national parks in the North Island and the Mount Cook and Fjordland national parks in the South Island. A scene from each national park and a sidebox of a typical plant In the area are pictured on the stamps. The stamps were designed by Tracey Purkls, of Paraparaumu, who used an original linocut method. The centennial marks the beginning of New Zealand’s national park system. In 1887, a Ngati Tuwharetoa chief, Te Heuheu Tukino, gave the Crown a block of land surrounding three volcanic peaks in the centre of the North Island.. The < Govemmemnt passed legislation in 1894

which formally established this area as the Tongariro National Part, the feature of the 31.30 stamp. The 85c stamp depicts New Zealand’s largest national park, Fiordland, known for its mountains, forests and lake*. The Mount Cook National Park, an 80c stamp, includes 15 peaks more than 3000 metres high in the Southern Alps. The Urewera National Park consists of nearly a quarter of a million hectares surrounding Lake Waikaremoana in the North Island and is the 70c stamp. The pert is home to most native birds Including the kaka and kiwi. The stamps were printed in Australia by Leigh-Mardon Pty, Ltd. Each stamp is of vertical format, measuring 29.5 mm by,3smm. J Unaddressed first day covers are available for 83.82.