Niue 2014 - Niue Traditional Dress

Technical Information:
Date of Issue: 23 April 2014
Number of Stamps: Four gummed stamps
Denominations: 30c, $1.40, $2.00 and $4.00
Stamps and First Day Cover Designed By: New Zealand Post Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand
Printer: Collectables and Solutions Centre, New Zealand Post, Whanganui, New Zealand
Number of Colours: Four Process Colours
Stamp Size and Format: 40.00mm x 30.00mm (Horizontal)
Paper Type: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper
Number of Stamps per-Sheet: 16 stamps
Perforation Gauge: 13.33
Period of Sale: Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, these stamps will remain on sale until 22 April 2015

Made from natural and synthetic materials, Niue’s clothing represents their unique way of life – both past and present and is featured on their latest stamp issue.

Issue information

Made from natural and synthetic materials, these items of dress represent Niue’s unique way of life - both past and present. These clothing items show just part of the rich history of one of our neighbouring countries. Depicted on these four gummed stamps are the pulou (hat), pipi (a belt made from human hair), tiputa (poncho) and patutiti (skirt).

30c Pulou
This hat is made from strips of plastic bread bags woven together, probably at a time when weavers were experimenting with materials or there was a material shortage.

$1.40 Pipi
This belt is made from finely plaited human hair. These belts were worn by warriors and were sometimes adorned with feathers or shells to indicate status.

$2.00 Tiputa
This poncho is made from hiapo - a form of decorated barkcloth from Niue and was worn as a form of modesty to cover the upper body.

$4.00 Patutiti
This skirt is made of natural hibiscus fibres dyed red and decorated with rosettes, and may have been used in dance and other performances.