The runway was approaching and we still didn’t have clearance. We’d reduced speed but the control tower was looming closer. Suddenly we got the green light. “There it is,” pointed Geoff, “Up in the tower”. Sure enough, a green light beamed back at us, permission to continue on the railway that cuts through Gisborne’s airport. < Back Hidden Gisborne New Zealand Herald 9 Aug 2023 The runway was approaching and we still didn’t have clearance. We’d reduced speed but the control tower was looming closer. Suddenly we got the green light. “There it is,” pointed Geoff, “Up in the tower”. Sure enough, a green light beamed back at us, permission to continue on the railway that cuts through Gisborne’s airport. Geoff was a guard aboard Wa165, the only remaining Wa class steam locomotive in the world. As President of the Gisborne City Vintage Railway, over the clack clacks he shared the history of an engine that first ran when Queen Victoria reigned. After years of neglect, it was lovingly restored by rail enthusiasts and now plies its route as one of Gisborne’s hidden treasures. “You’ll want to see this,” Geoff nodded ahead. We started to slow as the Waipaoa River Bridge came into view. Passing over the longest rail bridge in the North Island made for a vintage scene before picking up steam through the fields to Muriwai. Once the train had safely stopped it was the kids’ time – selfies lying in front of the cowcatcher and oohs and ahs as they clambered into the cab under the watchful eye of the driver. John the fireman (in a steam train sense) took me through the stats: half a tonne of coal, 4,000 litres of water, and a whole lot of levers to get the three carriages here and back. As a trainee driver, it was his job to manage the ‘run around’ – when the engine is shifted to the ‘rear’ of the train in order to lead the way home backwards. As we rumbled back to the city and scenic views gave way to urban landscape, the piercing whistle reminded cars that a 200-tonne train was headed their way. At journey’s end Wa165 braked to a stop and 150 beaming faces disembarked. Quite conveniently the railway depot is just a five-minute walk from New Zealand’s oldest independent brewery. The home of Gisborne Gold, Sunshine Brewing is a boutique brewery, pizzeria and off-licence all wrapped into one. Kahu was there to greet me, passionately explaining what it takes to create such locally-inspired drops as Life’s a Peach, Pipeline Pilsner and Stockies, before generously pouring me a tasting flight from a selection of their 20 tap beers. Spilling out onto the patio was a melting pot of jandals and John Bulls, mullets and bangs. Spilling out onto the patio was a melting pot of jandals and John Bulls, mullets and bangs. Piping hot pizzas landed with ice-cold pints as beer-matching is an art here: Rip Tide pizza accompanied by Mahia Pale Ale, slices of Shore Break with the award-winning No Access East Coast hazy IPA. As I left it was obvious that the locals appreciate it too as ‘double dozens’ were carried off to be sipped elsewhere. Tūranganui-a-Kiwa has always had an active arts scene so it was exciting to come across Toi Ake. Located in the Ballance Street Village, its teardrop banner gave little away. Randomly popping in I was welcomed by co-founder Henare Brooking (Ngati Porou, Rongowhakaata), himself a painter, tā moko, pounamu and paraoa (whalebone) artist. “We wanted to create a hub for local artists to work from, a place where they could grow their art”. Now one of the country’s leading Māori art studios, the gallery features work from across the motu. Paintings and prints cover the walls. Carvings look down and sculptures stand proud. While the front of Toi Ake is a gallery, it was out back where the action was taking place. One of the five full-time tā moko artists was carefully applying fresh ink to a client’s ankle; the concentration was evident. On the other side of town, there was a different sort of concentration: wild stingrays. 24 years ago diver and underwater cameraman Dean Savage was befriended by a curious stingray, planting the seed for what is now Dive Tatapouri’s Ecology Reef tour. Today these kaitiaki of the ocean, sacred to the area, feel the vibrations of people from all over the world who have come to interact with them in their natural environment. Thorough safety briefing done (“avoid the barbs”), waders on and pole in hand, we entered the reef at low tide. My partner's trepidation quickly evaporated as Stevie Ray glided up beside her. Graceful, serene, Stevie Ray investigated the line of legs before being joined by eagle rays Aroha and Rachael. Our guide Matt handed out bait. “When you go to feed them take your hand right to the bottom, all the way down – their mouths are under their body.” Aroha came up to my partner’s hand and sucked the food in like a soft vacuum, despite pushy kahawai trying to get in on the action. Matt was encouraging: “Go ahead, gently stroke them if you like.” I nodded affirmatively as if I was a marine biologist. A hand went into the water and the report came back: slimy but cool. Soon it was our turn for lunch and the city’s inner harbour beckoned. Years ago, when I was wearing Nomads at Gisborne Boys’ High, the Kaiti Freezing Works was a major employer in Tairāwhiti. Today the only remaining building is a gable-roofed structure that houses one of Gisborne’s best eateries, The Works. With an industrial-meets-casual vibe that wouldn’t be out of place on Ponsonby Road, the brick restaurant is less ‘hidden’ and more ‘destination’. Like many a hospitality venue over the summer post-COVID, it has been “smashed as”, but you wouldn’t know it judging by what was coming out of the kitchen. Cradled in a halved brioche was my Pork Belly Karaage, a perfectly coated tonkatsu topped with honey soy sauce… which instantly got ‘shared’ with uninvited forks. The Orecchiette Pasta was nearly enough for two: prawns sitting atop lemon pangrattato and thinly sliced zucchini. There was no need for dessert, tempting as it looked. It’s a little-known fact that the National Arboretum of New Zealand is… in Gisborne. To be accurate, the arboreal ark that is Eastwoodhill is a 30min drive away through the Ngatapa valley. Upon arriving I instantly regretted not putting more time aside to see the largest collection of northern hemisphere trees in this part of the world. Autumn sees the 100-year-old gardens come alive, a deciduous cloak of orange fluttering upon a bed of needles and cones. Another little-known fact: it's not only the Giant Panda and Bizarre-nosed Chameleon that make the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; Eastwoodhill helps protect over 150 threatened or endangered trees on the list. We took the Yellow Walk to see them, zig-zagging through the woodlands before the scent of eucalyptus led us to The Cathedral. Originally an outline of Westminster Abbey planted in Lawson cypress, the enchanting smell comes from the tallest tree in the arboretum. There is something soul-fulfilling in walking amongst giants and my partner couldn’t help but say hello to the trees in their native language: “Konnichi wa” “Ni hao” “Hola” ”Bonjour”. The arboretum isn’t all exotics though; there are plenty of natives for the kids to learn about if you can tear them away from the carved lion. The fading sunlight was our cue to head down the road to our final destination, Gisborne Astro Tours. Pulling up outside a paddock and a large portacabin shed, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Our host, John Drummond (MSc Astronomy, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand) strolled out to meet us, extending his hand like we were old friends and inviting us inside. As we took a seat John explained how we were in a perfect position: zero light pollution and the best view of the universe. As he started his interactive 30-minute presentation I realised that this astro-scientist was the epitome of Gizzy: friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and authentic. Nebulae, clusters, supernovae, constellations - it was (excuse the pun) all so clear now. John put up with my inane questions (“Why did Pluto get demoted?”) with the skill of a science teacher and the patience of a saint. Then it was time to see the real thing. Leading us out past wool-shedding Wiltshire sheep, John disappeared through a low door before popping up to roll back the roof of his custom-built observatory, revealing two large Newtonian Reflector telescopes. This is where stargazing guests spend most of their time, marvelling at the celestial worlds before them until reluctantly having to share the eyepiece. As we were leaving John casually mentioned Gisborne Astro Tours’ Introductory Course to Astronomy: six lectures over six weeks focusing on how to use the telescope, astrophotography and solar system viewings. Humble as he was, I think it’s one part of the Gisborne experience that doesn’t deserve to be hidden. Details Getting there: Air New Zealand flies from Auckland and Wellington on a daily basis to Gisborne Gisborne City Vintage Railway: www.gcvr.org.nz Sunshine Brewing: www.sunshinebrewing.co.nz Toi Ake gallery: www.toiake.art The Works: www.theworksgisborne.co.nz Reef Ecology Stingray tour: www.divetatapouri.com Eastwoodhill Arboretum: www.eastwoodhill.org.nz Gisborne Astro Tours: www.gisborneastrotours.com Original publication: New Zealand Herald < Previous Next >

The Royal Photographic Society, one of the world's premium photography institutions, is featuring a gallery of Shades of Otara on their website. < Back Royal Photographic Society meets Otara 13 Sept 2017 The Royal Photographic Society, one of the world's premium photography institutions, is featuring a gallery of Shades of Otara on their website. The exhibition was included in the Society's Documentary magazine, The Decisive Moment. < Previous Next >

Guy Needham is an international photographer noted for his work with indigenous tribes, who primarily draws on themes of culture, identity and place. Guy Needham Guy Needham Guy Needham Guy Needham

The Angolan south western tribe will be making an appearance in Austria at an upcoming pop-up exhibition < Back The Vatwa pop up in Vienna 28 Mar 2026 The Angolan south western tribe will be making an appearance in Austria at an upcoming pop-up exhibition Fresh off exhibitions in Rome and Melbourne, the Vatwa of Angola will be appearing in Galerie Frank Wien from 29th August. A curated selection of Vatwa portraits taken in 2025 will be on show, focusing on the Oncocoa region’s earliest inhabitants, tracing identity, tradition, and resilience through a series of portraits - offering a quiet counterpoint to the pace and priorities of contemporary life. < Previous Next >

Recent solo and group exhibitions that Guy Needham's work has featured in around the world. EXHIBITIONS SOLO 2026 The Dani of Papua, MIRA Forum Porto, Portugal 2026 The Dani of Papua , Galleria Arte Roma Design Rome, Italy 2026 The Vatwa of Angola, Ladder Art Space Melbourne, Australia 2025 The Dani of Papua, Associação de Psicanálise Relacional Lisbon, Portugal 2023 The Dani of Papua, FotoNostrum House of Photography Barcelona, Spain 2023 The Dani of Papua, The Grey Place Auckland, New Zealand 2021 The Hadzabe of Tanzania, Ladder Art Space Melbourne, Australia 2020 The Samburu of Kenya, Studio 541 Auckland, New Zealand 2019 Six Tribes, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2019 Six Tribes, L’Atelier de Pilar Güell Barcelona, Spain 2019 The Hadzabe of Tanzania,Grey Gallery Auckland, New Zealand 2018 The Mentawai of Indonesia, ArtHouse Sydney, Australia 2017 The Mentawai of Indonesia, Studio 541 Auckland, New Zealand 2016 The Hamar of Ethiopia, ThisThat Gallery Auckland, New Zealand 2015 Shades of Otara, Studio One Auckland, New Zealand 2014 The Huli of Papua New Guinea, Allpress Studio Auckland, New Zealand 2014 Colour Nature, Rendezvous Auckland, New Zealand 2013 People of The Balkans, The Photographers' Gallery Napier, New Zealand GROUP 2026 Open, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, UK 2026 Pop-up collective, Galerie Frank Wien, Austria 2025 Winter Solstice, Griffin Museum of Photography Boston, USA 2025 Travel, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2024 Indian Photo Festival, State Gallery of Art Hyderabad, India 2023 Portraits, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2023 Budapest Inter national Foto Awards, Budapest, Hungary 2022 Prix de la Photographie de Paris, Espace Beaurepaire Paris, France 2022 Winter Solstice, Griffin Museum of Photography Boston, USA 2022 Vienna International Photo Awards exhibition, Austria 2022 Portraits, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, UK 2022 Still Life, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2022 The Portrait, Praxis Gallery Minneapolis, USA 2022 Shoot The Face, State Art Gallery Hyderabad, India 2022 Photographers for Ukraine, Incubator Lisbon, Portugal 2022 International Street Photography, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, UK 2021 6th Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary, FotoNostrum Barcelona, Spain 2021 International Photography Awards, Shatto Gallery Los Angeles, USA 2021 Budapest International Photo Awards, Budapest, Hungary 2021 Tales of the Unwritten, Stelio Crise State Library Trieste, Italy 2021 International Juried Exhibition, Centre for Photographic Art, Carmel California, USA 2021 After Dark, Praxis Gallery Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 2020 Winter Solstice, Griffin Museum of Photography Boston, USA 2020 GZ-Basel, Virtual exhibition, Basel, Switzerland 2020 First Place, Portraits, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Tampa, USA 2020 The Portrait, Praxis Gallery Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 2020 The Golden Hour, Auburn Art Gallery Los Angeles, USA 2019 Portraits, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Scotland, UK 2019 Monochrome, PH21 Gallery Budapest, Hungary 2019 Members Show, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Tampa, USA 2019 Postcards, Jarvis Dooney Gallery Berlin, Germany 2019 Jurors' Exhibition, Chania International Photo Festival, Greece 2019 Faces of the World, Ferencvárosi Művelődési Központ Budapest, Hungary 2019 SE Members Show, SE Center of Photography, South Carolina, USA 2018 Wanderlust, Galerie Sehnsucht Rotterdam, The Netherlands 2018 London Photo Festival, The Crypt London, UK 2018 LCAP Annual Exhibition, LA Centre of Photography, USA 2018 Atlas of Humanity, Photokina Fair Cologne, Germany 2018 Portraits, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2018 Travel, PhotoPlace Gallery Middlebury Vermont, USA 2017 London Photo Festival, The Crypt London, UK 2017 Show Your World, Gallery MC New York, USA 2016 Portrait Salon, Reminders Photography Stronghold Gallery Tokyo, Japan 2015 MIFA Foto Awards, Na Kashirke Gallery Moscow, Russia 2015 UK Portrait Salon, The Embassy Tea Gallery London, UK 2013 The Story of The Creative, See Exhibition Space New York, USA see exhibitions in situ > see tear sheets > see About >

I think I'm a nun-magnet. Not in a creepy sort of way, but this isn't the first time a sister has made a beeline for me. "I'm a photographer too," said Josette, seeing my cameras, before going on to share that both Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II had visited here. < Back Sieges, Saints, and Salt Pans Sunday Star-Times 21 Jun 2026 I think I'm a nun-magnet. Not in a creepy sort of way, but this isn't the first time a sister has made a beeline for me. "I'm a photographer too," said Josette, seeing my cameras, before going on to share that both Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II had visited here. ‘Here’ was the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu, an impressive basilica rising from the open countryside, and the most important shrine in Gozo. Gozo, located halfway between North Africa and Europe, is one of three islands that make up Malta – along with the island of Malta (confusingly) and tiny Comino. Smaller and greener than its sister island, Gozo moves at a far more laid-back pace. "Have you visited the Ċitadella yet?" asked Josette, playing both spiritual and physical tour guide. As it happened, I had, walking its honey-coloured ramparts that morning for a sweeping view over Gozo's rolling fields. The Citadel, in the heart of the capital Victoria (known as Ir-Rabat in Maltese) can be seen from nearly everywhere on the island, and I'd been driven there by the man now waiting outside for me: Ian, of 'Gozo Taxi by Ian'. A proud Gozitan, Ian had spent the morning giving me a humourous and insightful tour of the island. Picking me up from The Duke Boutique Hotel, our first stop had been the island's most impressive viewpoint, Xlendi (pron. 'Shlen-dee'). With a 17 th century tower standing sentry over an imposing coastline, the view of the limestone cliffs carved by wind was nothing short of awe-inspiring. When I said to Ian that Xlendi would be hard to beat, he just smiled. Driving to the north of the island, he parked us beside 350-year-old salt pans stretching out next to the sea. Climbing the dozen or so steps to the 'salt store', I was lucky enough to meet a fifth-generation salt harvester, who sold me a bag of crystals her family had scraped up over the summer months. With the salt safely stashed in my bag, we headed back across the island to Dwejra's Inland Sea. Connected to the Mediterranean through a tunnel in the cliffs, you can take a 15-minute boat ride into the open sea for some of the best diving around Gozo. Worth knowing: if you're by yourself, you either have to wait for others to arrive or hire an entire boat yourself (and that wait can be a long one). From there, it was on to our final destination of the day: Gozo's – and perhaps Malta's – finest beach, the crescent-shaped Ramla il-Ħamra. Literally meaning 'red-sanded beach’, Ramla is refreshingly free of crowds, and families were making the most of the gentle, warm waters as kids ran around on the rusty red sands. It was a fitting farewell to Gozo. The next morning, I took the 45-minute highspeed ferry to Malta. If Gozo's charm lay in its natural beauty, Malta's lay in something far more dramatic: a history of sieges, knights, and empires. Unfortunately for Malta, geography made it a target. For thousands of years, control of the island meant control of the Mediterranean's sea routes – a prize fought over and claimed by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, Sicilians, French, and British. But it's the Knights of the Order of St John whose presence still defines the island today. Refugees from the Crusades, the knights had been chased from Jerusalem to Rhodes before finally settling in Malta. It was here, in 1565, that they won their greatest victory: 500 knights and 8,000 Maltese held out against 30,000 Ottomans in the Great Siege of Malta. Leading the defence was 70-year-old Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette, after whom the capital, Valletta, is named. As an avid history buff, there was one place in Valletta on my ‘must see’ list: the Grand Master's Palace. Once the official residence of the Knights' Grand Masters, it now houses the Office of the President of Malta, along with an impressive medieval armoury. Walking between rows and rows of elaborate armour, mounted swords, and flintlock muskets, I doubt I closed my mouth once – five centuries of warfare lined the walls on either side. Keen to learn about one more siege I headed to The Malta Experience, an audio-visual history of the country. During World War II, Malta endured more bombing than London did in the Blitz, as Germany and Italy tried to force it into submission. Under siege for two and a half years, the island held out until convoys broke through with vital supplies – earning it the George Cross, Britain's highest civilian honour for bravery, which still flies in the corner of the flag today. Walking the streets back to my hotel, I looked up at the colourful gallariji, the enclosed wooden balconies that I'd first noticed on Gozo. I raised my camera to take a photo, then paused, thinking of Josette – wondering what the nun would be photographing next. Originally published in Stuff < Previous Next >

Webb's upcoming Material Culture auction, a celebration of the mastery and skill of indigenous artists and their craft, will feature images from The Hull of Papua New Guinea. < Back The Huli at Webb's 20 Jul 2023 Webb's upcoming Material Culture auction, a celebration of the mastery and skill of indigenous artists and their craft, will feature images from The Hull of Papua New Guinea. The Webbs's catalogue traverses continental regions of Africa and Australia and on through Oceania and Aotearoa, and covers a vast period of time from as early as some five thousand years ago to present day. In keeping with the artefacts a number of Guy Needham's signed, limited-edition prints will be up for auction, featuring one of the last remaining tribes that still wear traditional dress. You can find out more about the auction here . < Previous Next >

Guy Needham is noted for his international work, primarily drawing on themes of identity and place within cultural narratives. His images have been exhibited in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Tokyo and Athens. ABOUT Guy Needham’s inquisitive worldview was shaped by growing up in rural New Zealand in the 1970s. Today he is noted for his international work with indigenous tribes, primarily drawing on themes of identity and place within cultural narratives. His work is a hybrid of photographic genres, sitting somewhere between documentary and portraiture. The simplicity of his pared-down style has been described as having both a quiet intensity and a subtle momentum. His images have been exhibited in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, Tokyo, and Athens, and been seen on the pages of National Geographic Traveler, CNN.com, Lonely Planet, SUITCASE Magazine, International Traveler, Portrait Magazine and AFAR. see exhibitions in situ > GET IN TOUCH guy@guyneedham.com +64 2164 5600 CONTACT CONTACT for print sales and media enquiries First Name Last Name Email Type your message here... Submit Thanks for submitting!

The Hadzabe are a tribe so old that National Geographic calls them “the closest living relatives of the humans who first left Africa to migrate to the rest of the world.” Today there are only 1,500 Hadzabe remaining, occupying the same harsh valleys that they have since the beginning of the Stone Age. TRIBES The Hadzabe Lake Eyasi, Tanzania The Hadzabe are a tribe so old that National Geographic calls them “the closest living relatives of the humans who first left Africa to migrate to the rest of the world.” Today there are only 1,500 Hadzabe remaining, occupying the same harsh valleys that they have since the beginning of the Stone Age. < Previous Next >

Guy Needham's Shades of Otara has been chosen as a Selected Series in the dotArt Urban 2018 Photo Awards out of 4,460 photos and 272 portfolios from around the world. < Back Urban 2018 Photo Awards 26 Jun 2018 Guy Needham's Shades of Otara has been chosen as a Selected Series in the dotArt Urban 2018 Photo Awards out of 4,460 photos and 272 portfolios from around the world. The series, taken in South Auckland's Otara markets over a period of years, will now be considered for an exhibition to be held in the Italian city of Trieste later this year. < Previous Next >

When you're in Morocco colour is inescapable. The contrasts, hues and shades that make up this North African country are evident from the moment you land. Travelling through the country is an unbelievably vivid experience, an intoxicating blend of colours, photo opportunities mixed with spicy smells and the strange sounds of a foreign land. < Back Morocco in Focus New Zealand Herald 14 Apr 2009 When you're in Morocco colour is inescapable. The contrasts, hues and shades that make up this North African country are evident from the moment you land. Travelling through the country is an unbelievably vivid experience, an intoxicating blend of colours, photo opportunities mixed with spicy smells and the strange sounds of a foreign land. No photograph can ever capture the chorus of mosques in evening prayer. And even when the camera does freeze some spectacular scene it risks looking unreal. At the edge of the Sahara, the sight of the mighty Erg Chebbi dunes looming over an ancient desert fort, reflected in the mirror of a tranquil oasis, seems too perfect to be true. Similarly, like an elusive mirage on a sea of yellow, the Auberge Yasmina looks impossibly beautiful. Round every corner the images continue. One day I am standing in the stark whiteness of Midelt, feeding nuts to snow-covered Barbary Apes. The next, my eye is caught by a red jellaba framed against the intricate Moorish architecture of Fez. Like an elusive mirage on a sea of yellow, the Auberge Yasmina looked impossibly beautiful. Then there are Essaouira's blue-hued fishing boats, rainbow-coloured rows of shoes, multi-hued piles of spices, pink babouches and palm-fringed Kasbahs all demanding attention. But, above all, it is the people who leave an indelible image. From the curious Berber boy with pre-aged hands to the wary guardian of the medersa, every "Salam a Lakum" opens the door to another room in culture that is best described as proud. Each Moroccan I met knew that they lived in a beautiful part of the world... and who could disagree. Details See visitmorocco.org. Original publication: New Zealand Herald < Previous Next >

Two of Guy Needham's indigenous portraits, Hadzabe Smoker (wearing a kudu skin) from the Hadzabe of Tanzania series, and Final Touches from The Huli of Papua New Guinea, will go on show for the first time in the UK. < Back Kilts meet Kudu 5 Nov 2019 Two of Guy Needham's indigenous portraits, Hadzabe Smoker (wearing a kudu skin) from the Hadzabe of Tanzania series, and Final Touches from The Huli of Papua New Guinea, will go on show for the first time in the UK. Part of the Glasgow Gallery of Photography's international Portraits exhibition, the images will be available to view from 21-30 November. < Previous Next >