NZ 2020 – New Zealand’s first international exhibition since 1990 – is set to take over Auckland on March 19-22.
Held under the auspices of the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP), the exhibition will feature more than 1,200 frames, although none are by Canadians.
The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) is not a member of the FIAP, so its members “were not invited to participate,” said David McLaughlin, chair of The RPSC’s international liaison.
At the international level, exhibitors living in Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) member countries, including Canada, are eligible to enter world exhibitions.
There are also three continental organizations, including:
- the Federación Inter-Americana de Filatelia (FIAF), of which Canada is a member;
- the Federation of European Philatelic Associations (FEPA); and
- the FIAP.
Rarely, Canadian exhibitors will exhibit directly in FEPA or FIAP exhibitions as a member of a philatelic society in a country that belongs to one of those continental organizations.
“For example, if I collected Australia and was also a member of an Australian society, I could enter NZ 2020 under the Australian flag as the Australian Philatelic Federation is a member of FIAP,” said McLaughlin. “My exhibit and my medal award would be listed under Australia.”
Doing this, the exhibitor pays all fees, including international shipment, customs clearance and insurance to and from the exhibition commissioner.