FIGHT NIGHT | TAUFA LAVEMAAU AT ABA

On 25 July 2020, Taufa Lavemaau aka the Tongan Cowboy fought his last corporate fight before transitioning to amateur boxing. Held at the Auckland Boxing Association in Eden Terrace, it was an absolutely packed (and rowdy) room, ready to watch the 11 undercard fights before the middleweight professional fight at the end.

Taufa walked into this fight night steady and confident (as per daily life) and came away with a well-earned, technically excellent win by unanimous decision. This fight was not only special because it was his last corporate fight, but it was also dedicated to Oscar Bisman, a five-year-old boy currently fighting cancer. Oscar’s favourite colour is green, so Taufa walked out with a green bandana tied around his neck just for him.

Watch out, amateur boxing world. We’re coming for you and the 2024 Olympic Games.

Coach - Albie Roebeck | Team - Discipline Allegiance | Corner - Albie Roebeck, Eli Reupena, Faafiu Toohill

MITIMITI

It’s been a long (long) while since I’ve been here but rest assured, plenty of photos have still been taken in the last year. With Auckland in our second lockdown of the year (thanks for coming back, Rona, ya turd), it was the right time to deep dive back into the archives for a little re-edit of some favourite shots.

These were taken in Mitimiti, in the far north of New Zealand. It is home for a dear friend Pio Terei, and after years of hearing stories about the land, we managed to wrangle together a spontaneous team trip to see it in person. To get there, we drove four hours to Rawene and caught the ferry from there to Mitimiti.

Never before (or since, for that matter) have I seen such wild, rugged fauna. It felt like I was catching a sacred glimpse into what ancient New Zealand looked like before colonisation happened. The landscape is mostly untouched and has been given the room to do as it pleases.

We drove 4WDs on the beach, picked mussels and soaked up a place layered in a friend’s history.

PAULUS AND SHIERLY | ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

This little adventure out to what I affectionately call ‘the set of Jurassic World’ on Auckland’s west coast feels like it happened a lifetime ago. It would be my first time meeting the lovely Paulus and Shierly (whose wedding I was lucky enough to shoot earlier this year) amidst a flurry of final getting-ready touches.

We trekked out to a local waterfall before heading out to the sand, joking the whole way that we were ready for Chris Pratt to pop out at any moment - followed closely by Blue, of course. On our way back out and one (very swift) outfit change later, we spotted a field of yellow flowers, which the wading through cold water would prove to be absolutely worth it for. Thanks for dancing on the beach for/with me, guys!

THE SCHRAMMS | FAMILY SHOOT

I love traditions and I love the holidays. So it was only natural that an annual Thanksgiving trip has become one of the most anticipated things of each year in my world. As each trip passes, new little rituals are added, including a girls’ Napa trip and now this - a Christmas card family portrait sessions with my fam, the Schramms. (Let’s not forget the one month of discussing outfits with Em prior to this shoot).

The Schramms’ property backs straight on to one of Redding’s most popular spots, Lema Ranch, and so seeing as it takes all of two minutes to walk across the backyard and on to the trails, we didn’t go looking for a different location again this year.

Not pictured? Britt and Audra, two great friends, who came along as hype girls and made sure we were all well fuelled with a jazzy list of Christmas favourites and endless dance moves. It may be June now but let’s just say discussions have already begun for this year’s shoot.

THE DIEKEMAS

As I post this, we are fast approaching the middle of August, which, honestly, is a little hard to believe. I was chatting with a good friend of mine the other night over McDonald's hot chocolates and we agreed that we both love the second of years more. Being based in New Zealand and having an annual trip to California for Thanksgiving means I do get the best of both worlds, I suppose - summer weather, fall weather, Thanksgiving and the holidays. 

I've just returned from a 10-day trip to Singapore to hang out with my Grandma (who is doing great) and in that time, the sunset that I had been tracking long escaped my mind. But fast forward to last Friday and I was that girl who stepped out of the car at boxing grinning at the weather. Why? Well, because it's beginning to feel like spring. I can confidently say that the worst of winter is over and waiting for me just around the corner are longer, lighter evenings. I can't wait.

This was not, in fact, the weather when I headed out to Whenuapai to shoot with the Diekemas. Sarah is a beloved former colleague of mine and a friend (obviously). Muriwai beach (pictured) has been a special place for herself, Ken and River (the beautiful giant dog in the photos) for years now and so to get to be there with them and their new little babe (Eli) was extra special. This photography thing gets you into some pretty humbling and precious places of people's lives and it will never stop being an honour.

THE RUKAS

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon over here and I'm sitting here in sweatpants and a hoodie doing everything in my power to fight off what feels like an impending cold. This last week, over 65 staff members from work made the long journey to Parihaka (including this sweet family, the Rukas). Parihaka is a small settlement in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's South Island. It was a six-hour drive from Auckland and it was two and a half very rich days spent there, and the photos are coming, naturally.

I threw together a quick video of the trip. Watch it on my IGTV channel here! It does absolutely nothing to capture the depth of conversation that I got to be part of - which I hope to write about in the days to come. We dissected the topics of race, history, and the church, and spent a lot of time listening. Listening to the stories of injustice that Parihaka has experienced since the invasion of their home in 1881, listening to what forgiveness and hope look like for this community, listening to people's process. 

(Photos shot for Parenting Place).

BEE-KEEPER HARLEY

Let me tell you a story about the time I harvested honey with a three year old. This was probably the most fun story I've gotten to create for work so far. Instead of retelling the whole tale, head on over here to read about it. I will reiterate - little Mr. Harley here is living a vastly different childhood from my own. At the age of three, we were still living in Taipei, Taiwan and I can say with absolute certainty I was not running around a backyard in a miniature bee suit picking up chickens and harvesting honey.

In case you missed it, head on over to my Instagram profile and watch the highlight I saved of this day. Worth it. Promise.

THE RIPPEYS

Meet the Rippeys. Such a peaceful, sweet family and some of the most comfortable I've had in front of the camera because they really do just love hanging out with each other. Also, it was my first time out to this area of Auckland and gosh, it sure is a treat for this fam to be just a three-minute walk away from this water.