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CPotY Snapshots

Title: Threads of Heritage Photographer: Mele Tau’alupe Category: Society semi finalist

Behind the camera: Mele Tau’alupe is a 28-year-old Tongan photographer. Born and raised in Newtown, she runs her own photography business, working mainly on weddings and lifestyle shoots. As someone who cherishes family and community, she finds photographing weddings comes very naturally.

Why photography? In her early twenties Mele felt lost. She had dropped out of criminology studies at Victoria University and was left without direction. Deciding to fill the void with travel, she set off to spend several months in Nepal – taking her father’s camera with her, and picking up a new passion in the process.

The snap: The subject of Threads of Heritage is Hana, the bride, dressed in a traditional Pakistani wedding gown. “The detailing caught my eye as soon as I saw her,” says Mele. She likes to make “headless” portraits in order to “capture the individual’s material character”.

The day of wedding was also that of the Hunga volcano’s eruption in Tonga. The photo, which will preserve a wonderful memory for the couple, also reminds Mele that it will be some time before she can return to her home country.

The Capital Photographer of the Year 2022 competition was held earlier this year, with the winners announced in June. We’ll be highlighting some of the entries each issue and online at capitalmag.co.nz/cpoty

One

Run around

As if he were not already busy enough as brand manager at Coffee Supreme, Doug Johns has challenged himself to run every street in Pōneke. Inspired by runner Rickey Gates and his Every Single Street project, Doug has started For the Run of It, and is inviting anyone to join him to “share a few kms.” While one of Doug’s main aims for the project is to explore more of the city, he also hopes to fundraise for Trees That Count. With roughly 700km of paved roads to cover, his goal is to plant a tree for every kilometre run.

Two

Hospo heroes

Egmont Street Eatery, Kisa, Hawthorn Lounge and Boneface in Upper Hutt are among the nominees announced in this year’s Felix Awards. Pour and Twist’s Zuyi Woon (See p.90) is in the running for Outstanding Barista, and Havana Bar’s Eom Jae Hoon (Cap #84) for Outstanding Chef. The awards acknowledge the restaurants, chefs, baristas, and bar and front of house staff, that keep the food industry buzzing. Winners will be announced on 11 September.

Three

Catwalk

Smart Cat Collars are being launched by the Wellington City Council in a bid to keep both cats and native birds safe. Designed by a sewing group at Newlands Community Centre, the collars feature a reflective strip and bright polka dots to make them easily visible to drivers and birds. Bird numbers in the capital have increased significantly in recent years, partly thanks to people’s cooperation in keeping cats indoors at night, and having them desexed.

Four

In the good books

Lisa Adler has been named Best Emerging Bookseller 2022 at the Aotearoa Book Trade Industry Awards. For Lisa, the award is bittersweet, as it came just two days before the closure of Vic Books Pipitea, where she had worked since 2018. Vic Books general manager Jessica Godfrey (Cap# 83) says Lisa is “a voracious reader and she loves to put the best book into the hands of readers.” Lisa will be taking her talents to Vic Books’ Kelburn location.

Unity Books in Wellington were also prize winners, receiving the award for NZ Bookseller of the Year. The store on Willis Street celebrates its 55th birthday this year.

New in town

Support small

Rejuvenation in the suburbs continues apace. Welly Collective has opened a new store, in Johnsonville Mall. This is the third store opened by the collective which brings together more than 130 small businesses into one vibrant shopping experience. A perfect place to find artisan and bespoke gifts. The other businesses are at 100 Courtenay Place and at 9A Park Road Miramar.

Five

Raise your glass

After being one of the many events axed because of covid in 2021, Toast Martinborough is returning with a bang for its 29th year. The one-day festival is setting out to be more eco-conscious, incorporating compost and recycling bins on the seven sites, and limiting single-use containers and packaging. The event takes place on Sunday, 20 November, with eight Wairarapa wineries taking part. Organisers are offering live music, and glamping tents to provide handy accommodation after a few too many.

Six

Smell the history

Whanganui reeks of heritage - so says Heritage Month coordinator Ann Petherick. The October event has a transport theme celebrating a Historic Places Trust Category 1 airport control tower, the Durie Hill elevator, riverboats, buses, and trams. Waimarie, the southern hemispheres only coal-powered paddle steamer will be a highlight as it traverses the Whanganui river. A regatta on the river plus street parades, high teas, and exhibitions at local museums and art galleries are also planned.

Seven

Doing Time

Eight people variously describe being arrested in a dramatic meth bust, giving birth in handcuffs, surviving being transgender in men's prisons, the small comforts such as a good pillow and a pair of socks, and what it takes to take a lifetime of trauma and make a better life, on new podcast. True Justice is produced by JustSpeak, with production company Popsock Media and platform Re: News. Available on all platforms from 28 September.

It's cool to kōrero

Sorry I’m running late. I’ll be there in a tick!

Manawanui mai, e tōmuri ana au. A koko ake nei hei korā au!

Eight

In CPotY news

People’s Choice

The people have spoken, and chosen Bridget Sloane’s The Fog at Dawn (pictured) as the 2022 People’s Choice winner. CPotY judge Bridget Reweti commented that the image “appears magical, like an island in the clouds somehow tethered to the land via the windmills”. Congratulations Bridget, and thanks to the almost 2,000 people who voted.

Interislander

Enjoy an exhibition on the water during your next trip across Cook Strait. Our Whenua sponsor, Interislander, has displayed the semi-finalist photos in the category on the ferries, and in their reception area at the Wellington terminal.

Porirua bound

Capital Photographer of the Year: The Exhibition is hitting the road and heading to Pātaka Art + Museum for six photograph-filled weeks. From 28 October until 11 December it will showcase the best images from the 2022 competition, including each of the category winners and our official Capital Photographer of the Year. Entry is free.

Nine

Bounce back

After the Kaikoura earthquake hit in 2016 Paul Barton began investigating how indemnity insurance companies respond to customers’ claims. He discovered that while traditional cover helped to repair homes in the long run, it did not provide the immediate cash flow that’s needed after a natural disaster. In response, he started Bounce, a Wellington insurance provider, which aims to quickly get renters, homeowners, and businesses back on their feet after an earthquake.