We’re going on a care hunt

Within days of the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, Kiwis nationwide found themselves participating in a national bear hunt. By placing toys in their windows to show each other they were still connected, people created a magical experience for children and families on their daily walks. Facilitated by a call-out on social media, the New Zealand Bear Hunt stamps sought to commemorate this extraordinary collective effort. Among the hundreds of entries were many beloved bears with storied pasts. Only six bears could make it onto the stamps, but some runners-up stood out.

Old and Young

“The bear on the left was at the top of my stocking on Christmas morning 74 years ago. Very well loved, he has a vest on to hide his shaved tummy which I did when he was about seven years old to see if the hair would grow back. He has not got much hair left now, as we get older our hair thins out, has lost an eye recently as well, when we left South Africa I could not leave him behind, that was eighteen years ago. The other bear is one I made here in New Zealand about ten years ago. They have become great friends.”

Teddy

“This is Teddy. He is 52 years old. He is NZ made, hand knitted, and my mum bought it for me when I was a new baby from a school gala sale. He was small enough to clasp in my hands as a new baby and since then Teddy has continued to travel alongside me through the ups and downs in my life. He has been part of my Hokitika bubble and has stayed home during alert level 4, and avoided COVID-19 and saved lives! He is still going strong and will remain well behaved under alert level 3.”

Blue Ted

“This is Blue Ted, he is 16. The story goes he was living on the side of the road at Lowburn. On our way home to Wanaka from Dunedin Hospital after giving birth to a baby boy, we were pulled over by a police officer for speeding. Blue Ted spotted us as he was looking for a child to love. This is when he entered our lives.

He has gone everywhere with his child and is in every photo taken of the child over the years. He often went missing only to be found in some interesting places; the dog kennel, compost heap and once went missing for several months and every night became a scene going to bed as the child was distraught without Blue Ted. We actually tried to get another one (he actually came free with Huggies nappies!) but of course years had passed & they no longer supplied them. We even advertised him as missing in the hope someone found him. Months later he was finally found inside a lounge cushion! The celebration was bigger than Christmas. Over the years he has of course lost all his fur & been drawn on & mended but is still loved enormously and now is sending his love out to all who pass his window & stay safe in your bubble.”

MacDougal

“MacDougal a bear of distinction. Dougal has been in my life for 76 years. He was bought into the Kawateri maternity home Westport the day I was born. My grandparents bought it for me. He has seen many tragedies. The Murchison earthquake 1968, the two Christchurch earthquakes and now this pandemic. He keeps many of my secrets over the years in his furry stuffed head. When I unpack him from many if our shifts l say, ‘Welcome home old bear, old friend. You are never forgotten.’ Isolation has been a time of reflection for me, often my thoughts and feeling voiced to Dougal. He never questions me. Over the years he has been stoic and caring. With only one eye now he is still focused on his surroundings. Despite not seeing family and grandchildren, cooking and writing short stories as a means of recording this pandemic, to gift to my family has been a productive exercise. Dougal has learned the Māori launage over the years and he says Kia Mihi to all New Zealanders.”

Grandma’s Coat

“These two bears are made from my grandmother’s old fur coat. Grandma was born in 1900. Her eldest daughter, born 1929, made these two, plus six others, by hand, and gave them to family members. I have two because my sister didn’t treasure hers like I do.

Grandma went through both world wars, the depression, Napier earthquake and died in 1971. So this coat and the bears could tell us alot if they could only talk.”

The sell-out New Zealand Bear Hunt stamp sheet was issued on 20 May, with $3 from each sale donated to New Zealand Red Cross. Read about the starring bears at nzpost.co.nz/bearhunt