Lye

New Plymouth, NZ, Jan 1st 2016: Images from the exterior of the recently completed Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth, Taranaki. Unfortunately being New Years Day it wasn’t open, dammit- next time… Leonard Charles Huia “Len” Lye (5 July 1901 – 15 May 1980), was a Christchurch, New Zealand-born artist known primarily for his experimental […]

Chiller

Patea, Taranaki, NZ, early 2012. An early attempt at making a video- I think I’ve improved (ever so slightly) since. This was filmed at a favorite location in Taranaki, the Patea Coolstores. Just walking around the place gives me the creeps- hence the horror-esque soundtrack. Happy Halloween folks!

Ararata

Taranaki, NZ, Aug 2014: The country primary school is a rarity these days in New Zealand- at least operating ones are. These shells of former early childhood education dot the landscape- such as this school at Ararata in South Taranaki. Closed in 2000- as most country schools were around this time- Ararata school still stands, the target […]

Inhospitable

Hawera, South Taranaki, NZ, 2011: The final days of the old Hawera Hospital (1925-2012). Demolition was already well underway with at least half the complex already gone. I rigged a compact digital camera onto the hot-shoe of my DSLR to capture on video the state the place and what I was taking photos of- plenty of […]

The Watchtower of the Plains

Manaia, South Taranaki, NZ, August 2012: The Manaia Redoubt- constructed around 1880 on the site of the former pā Te Takahe- was the response by the local armed constabulary to the passive resistance of the Parihaka chief, Te Whiti, and his followers. The original wooden watchtower (35 feet high)- blown down in a storm and […]

Turuturu Mokai

“Turuturu Mokai” is one of the oldest fortifications built by Maori in New Zealand and was fought over during the Taranaki Land Wars of the 1860s. Situated just outside the South Taranaki town of Hawera, it was once a former public reserve and popular playground. However, in recent years the Ngati Tupaia controlled reserve has […]

Deserviced

Cooler

Taranaki, NZ, January 2013, Sony AS15. Exploring the labyrinthian maze of a former cool store complex…

Turuturu

Hawera, Taranaki, NZ, Dec 2012: The historic Maori pa site of Turuturumōkai, as of mid 2012 was in a terrible state of neglect. However in the duration, a group of local volunteers have taken it upon themselves to return this important maori (and pakeha) archaological site to how it used to look. It’s fantastic that […]