This newsletter follows the March 2026 NZPF meeting.

Societies Matter

I thought I should head this “Society Matters” but have done an intended swap around.

Leading up to the March Federation meeting I was looking at the Incorporated Societies website seeing which societies have redone their constitutions, which have de-registered and who were outstanding. Suffice it to say, there were societies in every category, so I hope you’ve got it all sorted out. There will, I’m sure, be those of you now redoing banking signatories and the like – it’s all rather a painful business. I believe that it was government’s intention that all societies now have better financial oversight and other processes in place.

Some of the delegates at our meeting were concerned about the falling number of members attending meetings and the lack of new members joining.

There is also a perceived problem with the reduced number of traditional stamp dealers. Whilst stamp shops just about disappeared in the 1990’s with the advent of internet trading and Trade Me, the number of virtual traders has sky rocketed. So that is another generational divide. Some of us older collectors like to pore through dealer’s stock and attend auction sales whilst the more ‘modern’ collector might access material online on an item-by-item basis.

Personally, I put my energies into my local society, to try new things to retain the membership we have and to recruit new collectors. Some of these are returning to the hobby whilst others are new to philately. All need the support of the membership. At our recent event we made a more serious attempt to connect with like-minded societies – historical and genealogical. The joint presentations we held were especially well received.

David Loe giving a presentation in conjunction with the NZ Genealogists Society

Die cast cars as an attraction for the young at heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Districts EXPO 2026

On Sat 18th April the Manawatu Society conducted the 63rd annual Central Districts Collectors EXPO and Convention featuring stamps, coins and postcards. A satisfying 47 sales tables sold and occupied with ten individual Dealers participating alongside eight Philatelic Societies/Clubs from throughout the North Island.

Action at the society and dealers table.

Despite the event coinciding with a severe storm and very wet conditions in the lower Wellington region, this keynote annual event was well attended with sales activities and buy ins from appraisals, being reported at very satisfactory levels. The 30 frames of public displays, generated from Society members from throughout the wider region was again a popular attraction in conjunction with the NZ One Page Philately competition with 47 entries competing for $500 in prize money and the “Manawatu Cup” – won by Jeffery Simpson (New Plymouth) with his well-presented “Offsets” entry.

This year’s Guest Presenter from the Hawkes Bay Soc., Andrew Spence, provided an absorbing and very polished talk and display on the issues of the “Cape of Good Hope.”
In the absence of longtime EXPO organiser (since 2014) Colin Dyer, the annual meeting of regional Society and Clubs representatives was chaired by Bob Gibson with an outline of recent Federation activities and the viewing of a PowerPoint presentation pinpointing membership and growth opportunities, compiled by Auckland Society member, John Powell.

The sustained annual support which Manawatu receives from our loyal dealers and the many contributing Societies/Clubs and their members (many of whom travel at some distance to attend) is greatly appreciated and continues to generate that feeling of philatelic togetherness which underpins the “convention” nature of this event each year.
As the Manawatu Society will be spearheading a National Exhibition next year (“Palmpex ’27”) the annual Collectors EXPO will take a rain check until its resumption in 2028.

Wellington Regional Stamp Show

Bob Gibson reports on the latest WRSS held on 11th April. “In addition to the normal local society tables we were joined by the Postcard Society of NZ and Cartophilic Society of NZ. We received positive responses from a couple of dealers who had not previously taken tables. A programme of seminars/workshops was developed to be presented by local collectors and there was also displays (photocopies) of material provided by society members.

Publicity for this and future fairs, including the workshops, aimed to attract new and experienced collectors through multiple channels, including via societies and dealers, online event listings, community radio, social media, libraries and community noticeboards throughout the region.

We received some good feedback from dealers recognising they rarely tell you they had a great day. At least two indicated they will probably be asking for an additional table. One was so effusive he reckons we have put new life into Wellington philately. We have received applications from two further new dealers for the July Fair (see details at the end of this newsletter).”

NZNPT

The New Zealand National Philatelic Trust (NZNPT) exists to support societies by way of grants. Upon the retirement of Sue Vernall, it has a new trustee and secretary in Hudson Biggs. He attended the Federation meeting in March to meet all those involved in Federation, the other NZPF appointed trustee, Lindsay Chitty and Lynette Townsend from NZ Post. NZ Post provide most of the financial support for NZNPT and it was NZ Post who provided the UPU material for Federation to dispose of for the benefit of member societies.

At a recent meeting of NZNPT all of the current applications were considered and by the time you read this Hudson will have informed societies of the result of their applications. Hudson may be contacted at hudson.biggs@accountingnz.com

Zeapex Trust

Those of you who read the Federation minutes will already know this, but I repeat it here for good measure. We have received a letter from the Trustees of Zeapex. I summarise here.

  • Zeapex will provide Federation $10,000 to be used by Federation provided the money is only spent on matters relating to exhibitions or relating to NZ exhibitors. By exhibitions it is meant national exhibitions, regional exhibitions, club or local exhibitions, Australian national exhibitions and international (FIP and FIAP) exhibitions.
  • Zeapex will reimburse NZPF for the NZ customs agent fees that are invoiced to it. This will reduce the financial burden on costs of exhibiting internationally.
  • In addition, the Trust has resolved to provide a financial contribution ($1,000) towards the costs incurred by New Zealanders who complete an assignment as an apprentice judge at a FIAP exhibition. It is intended that this payment will be made by Zeapex, on application, directly to the apprentice judge.
  • Provided the intended use of money is consistent with the Trust’s purposes, clubs and societies can apply to Zeapex for funding of philatelic activities.

I note here that Zeapex funds were first established after the financially successful international exhibitions held in Auckland in 1980 and 1990.

Federation will now be able to appoint more commissioners. It has no say on the number of judge appointments as the organising committee of each exhibition along with FIP/FIAP as appropriate decide these matters. However, I note with some concern that there are fewer exhibits being sent overseas with the retirement of a number of qualified exhibits. Conversely, the financial help being offered by Zeapex should encourage those with qualified exhibits to send them overseas. No other country in the world helps exhibitors as New Zealand does.

Website

Federation has shifted from Freeparking to a new platform myhost.nz . The format and ‘feel’ of the
website is now much improved and readable. Further discussions on content and direction of the website will be needed to align with potential future strategic directions.

Tiena Jordon – a new face on Federation

My name is Tiena Jordan, Northern Region representative on Federation. I am a member of the Whakatane Philatelic Society and Tauranga Stamp Club.

I grew up and lived in Awakeri for 60 years, and am now living in Whakatane. I am a retired Archivist. I have been a member of NZ Land Search and Rescue for 39 years and am a Justice of the Peace.

My mother started me off as a stamp collector. Growing up, my aunts often sent my Mum parcels from Holland and they were covered in stamps. I was always fascinated by them and would discuss them with Mum. For my 10th birthday she gave me an album and stamps she had saved and some Seven Seas packs and Also all the NZ Govt. Life Insurance ones they had received.

I also enjoy bush walking, cross stich embroidery and reading.

I have had an interesting collecting history. A friend in Canada told his aunt and she started sending me loads of Canadian stamps and I reciprocated with NZ ones. My sister-in-law in Adelaide had a business and she kept every stamp she received. We visited her and she gave me a huge box full and continues to do so.

A researcher corresponded with my boss, the Curator at the Museum where I worked, and he told the researcher I always wanted the stamps off his envelopes. He started sending me stamps.

When we were living in New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), I worked in the Presbyterian Church office. One day when getting the mail, I noticed a letter from the Vatican and asked if I could have the stamp. Later, the Christian Education Officer called me into his office and said if I cleared out his desk drawers, I could have all the stamps in it!
My husband was their itinerant maintenance/mechanic and visited all the MIssion stations on the outer islands. One day he was taken to another village and put up in an abandoned French plantation house. In it he found a drawer full of mint sheets of stamps and brought them home for me.

After Independence, I had to visit the former Christian Education Officer, who became the Minister of Lands, to sign some papers. He opened his drawer and said that as a Government Minister, he got a set of each new issue and gave me all he had!

Philatelic dates for 2026 and 2027

The next National Philatelic Exhibition to be held in Australia will be hosted by Queensland and staged at the Chandler Sports Centre, Brisbane 13 – 16 August 2026. The website is https://www.qldstampandcoinshow.com and the NZ commissioner is Ross Marshall marshall.r@xtra.co.nz and the closing date for entries is 31 May 26. Ross is still looking for entries to satisfy our minimum requirements for going to Australia.

Wellington Regional Stamp Shows to be held at Knox Church, Lower Hutt on 18 July and 26 September 2026. Both events will have dealer and society tables, seminars and workshops with the July event including interclub competitions (extended to Horowhenua and Manawatu societies). This includes the Neville Harris Memorial Trophy (now limited to exhibitors who have yet to achieve 80 marks at a national exhibition), the Patrick Brownsey Challenge trophy (for exhibits that have yet to achieve 80 marks at a national exhibition) and, for the first time 2- and 3-frame exhibits.

This year is the 50th Anniversary of the North Shore PS. They plan a 50th Anniversary meeting on 23rd September with a luncheon to follow on 26 September 2026. Their annual competition this year is on 3 October.

The NZ Postcard Society will be having a 2-day postcard event in Christchurch 2 and 3 October 2026.

The NZ Interclub One-Frame Competition will be hosted by the Airmail Society of NZ on 4 and 5 December 2026 at the Philatelic Centre on Mandeville St, Christchurch. There will also be a stamp fair on the 5th.

A National Exhibition will be held in Palmerston North in September or October 2027. It is being organised by the Manawatu Philatelic Society. A date will be chosen to avoid clashes with philatelic events in Perth and Melbourne around the same time. Called PALMPEX2027, the exhibition Chairman is Paul McTaggart, Exhibition Secretary; Stephen Chivers and Jury Chairman; Norman Banfield.

International events with New Zealand participation including contact details for the appointed commissioners can be found here: https://nzpf.org.nz/exhibitions/ Go to the page on the Federation website to connect to the relevant exhibition website and to connect directly to the commissioner. Sometimes entry deadlines get extended and the commissioner will be able to give you the latest information.

Content for the next newsletter gratefully received. The next meeting of Federation is on-line and in June 2026.
David Loe, President and newsletter editor.