New Zealand Heritage of the sea.

[aukepalmhof]

This issue titled 'The Sea' was another in the 'Heritage ' series leading up to the 1990 150th anniversary celebrations in New Zealand. The sea has played, and continues to play, a significant part in our island life.
Time and tide have truly shaped this land. Until 500 million years ago New Zealand was part of the seabed on the edge of a vast continent made up of Antarctica and Australia. Now it has risen as a series of broad ridges from the Pacific Ocean floor, 1,600 kilometres to the east of our nearest neighbour, Australia.
This relative geographical isolation gave the sea power to determine much of our social and economic history. A power that will surely continue long into the future.
Recreation - 40c
New Zealand enjoys an international reputation for prowess in water sports. Windsurfing is one of the most recent water activities our nation has taken to its heart, and our long coasts and favorable wind and sea conditions are ideal for it.
The Harvest - 60c
New Zealand's 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone, established in 1978, allows for the good management of this country's fisheries and covers 1.2 million square nautical miles. Many foreign fishing vessels fish under license in New Zealand waters earning us significant revenue.
The Challenge - 65c
New Zealand is well-known for big game fishing off the east coast from North Cape to Hawke's Bay, where marlin, various sharks, tuna and kingfish lure the fisherman. But the small boy fishing off the end of a wharf gets just as big a thrill when he hooks a modest 'spottie'.
The Cradle - 80c
New Zealand has many harbours from the busy deep water ports to small fishing ports and marinas for pleasure craft, and when New Zealanders go on holiday they are never far from the sea.
Seascape - $1.00
A feature of New Zealand's coastline is its staggering diversity, ranging from rugged cliffs, to sweeping golden and ironsand beaches, to bushclad hills falling to the water's edge, mangrove flats and long alluvial plains.
The Highway - $1.50
The first settlers in New Zealand, Maori and European, all arrived by sea. Only in the past 50 years has it been possible to arrive any other way. The early sailing ships were superseded by steam ships from the 1870s and only in the latter part of this century did rail, and later road transport, displace coastal shipping. Today, we still rely chiefly on the ocean highway to transport our produce to the world. (the ro-ro vessel depict is the UNION ROTOITI, see index for her details.)

New Zealand 1989 40c/$1.50 sg1524/1529.

Source: New Zealand Post.