TRAVEL

Melbourne's Ladder Art Space will be showing the Vatwa exhibition as part of their 2026 programme, bringing to Australia one of Angola's most intriguing tribes. < Back The Vatwa go to Melbourne 7 Oct 2025 Melbourne's Ladder Art Space will be showing the Vatwa exhibition as part of their 2026 programme, bringing to Australia one of Angola's most intriguing tribes. Regarded as the first indigenous inhabitants of the Angola's Onconcua region, no-one knows exactly where they originally came from, not even their chief. In May next year a curated selection of captivating portraits will be on show in Melbourne accompanied by texts sharing the lifestyle, history and social structures of this semi-nomadic tribe. The Vatwa are the ninth in Guy Needham's Tribal series, which to date has included indigenous peoples in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and South America. < Previous Next >

The sixth instalment of Guy Needham's tribal series opened in Auckland last night to a packed Grey gallery. < Back The Hadzabe opens in Auckland 29 May 2019 The sixth instalment of Guy Needham's tribal series opened in Auckland last night to a packed Grey gallery. You've still got time to see The Hadzabe of Tanzania, on show until June 8, and if you'd like to find out more about this fascinating tribe come along to the Q&A session this Saturday at Noon at 37 Scanlan St, Grey Lynn. < Previous Next >

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 20 Sept 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 the Suday Star-Times and The Post < Previous Next >

This walking dichotomy of a young Huli boy - is he turning his back on a traditional way of life, or walking towards his future - has been selected by Rotterdam's Galerie Sehnsucht as part of its Wanderlust exhibition. < Back Huli Boy in Dutch exhibition 5 Jun 2018 This walking dichotomy of a young Huli boy - is he turning his back on a traditional way of life, or walking towards his future - has been selected by Rotterdam's Galerie Sehnsucht as part of its Wanderlust exhibition. The image, taken in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, will be on show in The Netherlands from June 20 through to August 5. < Previous Next >

TRAVEL Torajaland Sulawesi, Indonesia For the Toraja of southern Sulawesi, death is very much a part of life and their elaborate funeral rites are renowned throughout Indonesia. Previous Next

An image of Domi Logo, one of the elders of the Dani tribe, has been selected for an international Portraits exhibition in Athens, Greece. < Back Domi Logo goes to Athens 9 May 2023 An image of Domi Logo, one of the elders of the Dani tribe, has been selected for an international Portraits exhibition in Athens, Greece. The portrait which was taken outside the village's pilamo or men's hut will be on show at the Blank Wall Gallery from June 9-21. Although thousands of years old, the Dani tribe was unknown to the rest of the world until 1938. Today they still live a simple life and their traditions have endured, including their formidable appearance for celebratory occasions. < Previous Next >

Last night Éxi Fylés (six tribes) opened at the Blank Wall Gallery in Athens, with a show-and-tell opening night. < Back Greece welcomes Éxi Fylés 9 Feb 2019 Last night Éxi Fylés (six tribes) opened at the Blank Wall Gallery in Athens, with a show-and-tell opening night. Guy Needham talked about the 'other side' of taking photos including his adventures from watching women self-flagellate to getting carjacked to hunting baboons. The collection of 50 images can be seen here. < Previous Next >

TRIBES

We clap our hands for many things, but until this year I’d never actually applauded the sun going down – that is, until I was at Ipanema. < Back Brazil Rediscovered Que Magazine 26 Apr 2011 We clap our hands for many things, but until this year I’d never actually applauded the sun going down – that is, until I was at Ipanema. In homage to a certain tall and tan and young and lovely girl, I was at this iconic beach to see the Procession of Lemanja, an African-Brazilian religious pilgrimage to honour the god of the sea. Often dwarfed by Rio de Janeiro’s New Year celebrations, the festivities involve women clothed in white, throwing flowers into the incoming tide as they try to avoid the crashing waves. As more and more locals and tourists gathered on the cliffs above to watch, we lifted our heads to take in the last rays of sunlight. When the big orange ball finally disappeared below the horizon, spontaneous applause broke out and you just couldn’t help joining in. It was, after all, a dazzling display in the world’s sexiest city. While Ipanema’s golden sands are the playgrounds of the rich, beautiful and occasionally sunburnt, locals prefer its more famous neighbour. Amongst the bikini-clad bodies on Copacabana, are kids from the favellas, who just want to play in the waves like you and I used to do. Brazil is massive – bigger than mainland United States – so for this trip I’d limited myself to Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu and Sao Paulo: the fifth largest metropolis in the world with a teeming 20,000,000 people.Away from Rio’s ubiquitous hotel towers are its less visited old suburbs, including Santa Teresa, best explored by taking the creaking bonde tram. As we rattled through the cobblestone streets, the beats of 1960s bossa nova echoed out beyond the grilled windows, the rhythm of samba tempting us to sway. But something else beckoned more strongly – the all-encompassing arms of Cristo Redentor. In a country that has the largest Roman Catholic population in the world, this iconic statue is more than just a tourist attraction. Built in the 1920s, on the top of the Corcovado Mountain, the monument towers 700 metres above the city and offers breathtaking panoramas. A word of advice: the best views are early in the morning, before the mist and clouds roll in. It was mist of a different sort that we encountered at Iguassu Falls. Taking a jungle boat to the edge of Garganta do Diablo, ‘The Devil’s Throat’, we were swallowed up by a thunderous spray that soaked us to the skin. The rapid thrill of the wash gave way to the click of cameras as we neared the plummeting 200 foot falls. It’s worth dedicating time to see the 270 odd falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides. Surprisingly, it wasn’t just the almighty falls that were a highlight; the animals that call Iguassu home were simply stunning. Never before had I seen so many beautiful butterflies resting on a shallow pond; nor seen a bird look at me quizzically, as if to ask “what do you want?”; or a family of raccoon-like coati casually wandering down the main track. After a sweltering day of 35 degree heat and 100% humidity it was time to return to town for a cooling caipirinha, the national cocktail of Brazil. Although Rio is the best known and Brasilia is the capital, it is the powerhouse city of Sao Paulo that makes the Brazil go round. ‘Sampa’ (as the locals call it) is like a city on steroids. With five times the population of New Zealand, it also has over 5,000 high-rise buildings, is the 10th richest city in the world and has the largest fleet of helicopters on the planet. I was even invited into the cockpit of one for sale on the 6th floor of a shopping mall. My companion wanted to get away from the concrete jungle so first stop was Ibirapuera Park. Walking around the lakes you’d have little idea that across the way was one of the biggest cities in the world. The locals obviously love it, judging by the amount of cycling, rollerblading and skateboarding going on. The stylised street art on the walls of the Museum of Modern Art adds a real sense of fun to the park. 'Sampa’ is like a city on steroids. With five times the population of New Zealand, it also has the largest fleet of helicopters on the planet. It was a little late when we decided to visit the bohemian suburb of Vila Madalena. As we got out of the car, once again, the sound of music caught our attention. This time we decided to follow the sound. We stumbled across the back alley where the music was coming from – a samba school practising for Carnival! It only cost a few reais to enter and suddenly we found ourselves literally swept up in the madness of drums, dancing, flags and whoop-whooping. The beats went on and on, with everyone joining in, until it was one huge, carefree moving mass of hands in the air. When the samba finally finished and we got our breath back, it was time to eat al fresco. Within minutes we had two waiters fussing over a hotplate placed on our table. We were to have churrasco beef, cooked in front of us, washed down with a couple of cervejas. It looked and smelt good. Thinking back now, that dish on a warm summer night was a metaphor for Brazil - massive, tasty, colourful and slightly unexpected. The perfect way to end a trip to South America. Top 5 not-so-known Brazilian activities Eat: For something different try dinner-by-the-kilo at Ipanema. Fresh vegetables, salads and cut meats to put on your plate before taking them up to scales to weigh and pay Exercise: Hire a bike and pedal the 7ks around Rio de Janeiro’s Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. When you want a break buy one of the coconuts with straws in them and sip the cool milk (they actually call it water, not milk, but that’s OK. Maybe “milky” water is better - it’s not like Fijian coconuts) Leave: Grab a taxi and cross the border to spend a day on the Argentinian side of Iguassu Falls. Don’t forget your passport and you’ll need Pesos before you cross. Ask for Jair of Sindtaxi Visit: Although the outskirts of Rio are being cleaned up, you can still go on an organised tour in the safer parts of the city. Like anywhere, be aware of your surroundings Shop: If you’re in the market for a new 55ft cruiser or 6-seater helicopter, try Toys & Tools in Sao Paulo. For a measly few million, you too could be hovering over the city. < Previous Next >

In Lisbon, a city known for its leatherwork, a pencil case is much more than a convenient carrier; it’s a culmination of artisanal training, pre-cut patterns and naked flame... < Back Behind the scenes in Lisbon 22 Oct 2025 In Lisbon, a city known for its leatherwork, a pencil case is much more than a convenient carrier; it’s a culmination of artisanal training, pre-cut patterns and naked flame... A pencil case, keeper of memories and three-way pens, lives in that no-mans-land of utilitarian nostalga and scholastic glory. Read the full article here < Previous Next >

Guy Needham's next exhibition, Colour // Nature will be hosted by Auckland's Grand Rendezvous Hotel. < Back Colour Nature opens 14 Jul 2014 Guy Needham's next exhibition, Colour // Nature will be hosted by Auckland's Grand Rendezvous Hotel. Colour // Nature is a play on man's need to categorise, numerise and systemise what is naturally found on this planet. This is an exhibition of digitised beauty - scenic landscapes and close up flora are given references rather than titles. < Previous Next >