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Thursday, 8 August 2019

1059) Tokelau Inati-Equal Portions Stamps, Tokelau Islands: A Four Stamp Set depicting Taro (45c) Stamp, Breadfruit ($1.40) Stamp, Fish ($2.00) and Coconut ($3.00) Stamp issued by New Zealand Post on behalf of Tokelau Islands: Stamp Set issue date: 01.05.2019:

1059)  Tokelau Inati-Equal Portions Stamps, Tokelau Islands: A Four Stamp Set depicting Taro (45c) Stamp, Breadfruit ($1.40) Stamp, Fish ($2.00) and Coconut ($3.00) Stamp issued by New Zealand Post on behalf of Tokelau Islands: Stamp Set issue date: 01.05.2019:



Unique to Tokelau, Inati is a traditional Community Fishing and Distribution system that is still practiced today in all the three islands of Tokelau. The act of sharing the food equally helps these isolated island communities in the South pacific to ensure the well-being of all house-holds - big or small. 


All men of the village ("Aumanga") are required to take part in this fishing activity and the specific fishing activity pursued is communicated to them before they go fishing.


This is usually done a day or two before the "Inati" takes place to suit the fishing time and to prepare and get bait, lines and other necessary equipment.


Targetted fish is sometimes Tuna and other deep ocean fish, the species in season or specific reef fish. The targeted species is communicated beforehand.

The men go out fishing in groups at a specified time and on their return, the catch is pooled and brought to a common distribution place. While the men are out, the women-folk prepare tea and food for them, which is served once the fishing parties return.

The catch is shared equally amongst the villages. The village "Pulenuku" is in charge of the distribution. All members of the household are counted and the sharing of fish dependes on the number of persons in each household.

Before the distribution starts, fish is sorted into different species and sizes. Bigger families get bigger shares and smaller sized families have smaller portions in terms of the number and type of fish.

Most of the younger men that take part in the fishing activity end up having the smallest amounts because they have smaller families. But tradition and respect dictates the process and everyone in the villges is happy with whatever they are allotted.

The Stamps:

Four Stamps are included in this Set. Apart  from the fishes caught, some/all of these food items are also distributed in "equal portions". These elegant stamps highlight four traditional foods of Tokelau - Taro, Breadfruit, Fish and Coconut:


The Two First Day Covers (FDCs) issued in the set.




The Miniature Sheet (MS) depicting the four Stamps issued in the Set


The individual Stamps - depicting "INATI" - Equal Portions Stamps.

Detailed Description of the Stamps:

Taro (45c Stamp)

Taro is a staple of Tokelau, imported from the island of Samoa. The root of the Taro plant is versatile and has a nutty flavour that works in both sweet and savoury dishes.

Fuaulu/Breadfruit ($1.40 Stamp): This starchy fruit tastes similar to potatoes and, when cooked, has a bread-like quality. It serves as a staple in many Pacific countries and is one of the few abundant crops in Tokelau.

Ika/Fish ($2.00 Stamp): All men in the community are required to help with the fishing. The Lunar Calendar is used to aid understanding of fish migration patterns and the best times and places to catch certain species.

Popo/Coconut ($3.00 Stamp): A popular and versatile staple across the Pacific, coconut trees are a common sight on the atolls of Tokelau.

Technical Data:

Date of issue: 01.05.2019

Issuer: New Zealand Post on behalf of Tokelau Islands

Designer: Saint Andrew Matautia, New Zealand Post, Wellington, New Zealand

Printer: Collectables and Solutions Centre, New Zealand Post, Whanganui, New Zealand

Colours: Four Process colours

Sizes: 30.0 mm x 40.0 mm (vertical)

Stamp values: 45c, $1.40, $2.00, $3.00.








Links to posts on Australia, New Zealand and countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific on this Blog:

2) Papua New Guinea: An uncirculated coin set brought out in 1995 commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Independence 

 3) Currency & Coinage of the Solomon Islands: Dollars and Cents

4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards

5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc  

6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)

7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene 

8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji 

9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979 

10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents 

11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms 

12) The story of the Australian Penny 

13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009 

14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman 

15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues 

16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017

17) Currency & coinage of the Kingdom of Tonga : Pa'anga & Seniti 

18) Postage Stamps & Coin: Commemorating the Centenary of the Trans-Australian Railway Line stamps issued by Australia Post & coins by Perth Mint on 04.07.2017



20) The Earth and Beyond Coin Series issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM): First coin in the series - The Earth - issued on 03.04.2018


21) Wedge Tailed Eagle Coin Series: 200 Dollars Gold, 100 Dollars Gold & 1 Dollar Silver coins brought out by the Perth Mint, Australia in its on-going series started in 2014 in collaboration with John Mercanti, Chief Engraver of the US Mint: Coins issued in 2018


22) Australian Kangaroo Coin Series: 25th Anniversary Commemoration: A $100 Gold Coin and a $10 Silver Coin with selective gold plating issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in 2018


23) "Kangaroo at Sunset": The Royal Australian Mint (RAM) is phasing out this iconic $25 Gold Coin from its repertoire of Commemorative Coins in 2018


24) "Discovery": An exclusive one piece - 2 Kilo Gold Coin studded with four Argyle Pink Diamonds/Gemstones minted by the Perth Mint, Australia in co-ordination with the Argyle Pink Diamonds Mine on 04.09.2018


25) "The Moon": The Earth and Beyond three Silver Coin Series: Royal Australian Mint issues the second coin in the series - a silver coloured Five (AUD) Dollars Concave-shaped (Domed) Coin on 03.09.2018


26) New $10 Australian Banknote issued on 18.09.2017 under the "Fourth Series of Banknotes": New generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced in a phased manner from 09/2016 onwards by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)

27) New Australian 50 Dollar Banknote (AUD $50) issued in 10/2018, under the "Fourth Series of Banknotes": New Generation of Australian Banknotes introduced in a phased manner from 09/2016 onwards by Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)


28) "Lake Argyle" - "The Jewel of the Kimberley", Australia: Limited Edition Series of Rare diamond ingots in Pink Gold (10 Oz. & 1 Oz.) and Platinum (1 Oz.) studded with eight Argyle Pink Diamonds each issued by the Perth Mint, Australia in collaboration with the Argyle Pink Diamond Mine (2018)


29) "The Sun": The Earth and Beyond Coin Series": Royal australian Mint (RAM) issues the third and final coin in the three-coin Series, a Silver Coloured Five (AUD) Dollars Concave-shaped (Domed) Coin on 03.02.2019


30) Australia New Generation $20 Banknote is scheduled to be released in October 2019, joining the already released Banknotes in the denominations of $5, $10 and $50 in the new Series

31) The Afghan Express, Australia's iconic Train nicknamed "The Ghan": 90th Anniversary of the iconic Transcontinental Passenger Train: A 50 Cent Colour applied coin brought out by the Royal Australian Mint on 08.07.2019

Links to interesting Posts on coins from Tuvalu Islands:
Links to posts on issues from the Republic of Palau:

2) Four Leaf Clover - Coin titled "Silver Fortune" - A 5 Dollars Silver coin issued by Coin Invest Trust in 2018


3) Totem Pole 2 Oz. or 10 Dollars Silver coin from the Republic of Palau being issued on 12.06.2018


4) The "Maneki Neko Cat" ot the "Fortune Cat" : A $1 Gold Coin issued by the Republic of Palau: Minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich for Coin Invest Trust in 2018


Links to Posts on coin issues from Niue Islands:


1) Battle of Marathon: Battles that changed History Coin Series: A $2 Silver coin issued by the New Zealand Mint of behalf of Niue Islands in 2018


2) Sachin Tendulkar: "World's Greatest Batsman": Gold & Silver coins issued by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Islands in 2015


3) The Red Dragon, an issue from Niue Island: minted by the New Zealand Mint: "The Mythical Dragons of the World Coin Series": The first Silver 5 Dollars selectively coloured Coin in the Series features the "Red Dragon of Vortigern": Year of issue: 2019

4) "The Four Dragons", Niue Island: Minted by the New Zealand Mint: The "Mythical Dragons of the World Coin Series": The second Silver 5 Dollars Selectively Coloured Coin in the Series features the Four Dragons: the Long Dragon, the Yellow Dragon, the Black Dragon and the Pearl Dragon: Year of issue: 2019

5) The "1001 Arabian Nights Tales": First $2 Silver crown Coin coin in the Series depicts the "story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves": Coin issue date: 29.03.2019

6) Niue Island: "The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor": The "1001 Arabian Nights Tales": The Second Coin in the Series features the story of Sindbadthe Sailor, on a $2 Silver Crown Coin issued by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island in the South Pacific: Issue date: 05/2019

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