New Zealand In Picture And Story

Northern Advocate, 21 April 1939, Page 9

New Zealand In Picture And Story

With a view to obtaining unusual photographs of New Zealand scenes and oddities, Mr Ivan Ive, of Australia. photographer, and Mr Douglas Carpenter, of Auckland, journalist, arrived in Whangarei yesterday for the purpose of planning a comprehensive tour of Northland in order to obtain features for “Pix” magazine, an Australian pictorial publication. Their New Zealand tour is being directed by “New Zealand Radio Record,” and the New Zealand Government is giving every assistance and making all their available facilities free to these two gentlemen. They plan to travel some 10,000 « miles over both islands of New Zealand. They have completed about 2000 miles up the west ’ coast of the North . Island, and have already taken a remarkable series of pictures. The trip up the. Wanganui River, for example, ■ provided for them a good range of suitable topics. The rhjer had not been at a lower level for 30 years, and great difficulty was experienced in navigating some of the rapids. Mt. Egmont also proved the source j of many valuable and unusual shots.

At Waitomo .Mr Ive used a microcamera, with which he was able to take close-ups of the actual glowworms and their hanging threads, pictures that had never before been at- '' tempted. These pictures will be of great interest in Australia, where the • glow-worm is practically unknown. The tourists are dealing exhaustive-, ly with each district. They were fortunate in arriving at Ngaruawahia at a time when there was a huge gathering of Maoris at the pa. They had a letter of introduction from the Government to Princess Te Puea, who threw open the pa to them, and permitted them to take photographs of ancient Maori rites, including the symbolic crowning of a young queen, an ancient ceremony never before photographed. Princess Te Puea introduced them to the chief who is in charge of the con* struction of the Centennial canoe at - Waipapa, He will arrange demonstra--tions in native dress, of carving and canoe construction, etc. They will set out on their Northland tour tomorrow, and will visit all places of historic and natural interest. They hope to make a feature of the toheroa industry, kauri tree climbing, histone places and interesting feattires of all kinds. f

They expect to be in Northland for about a fortnight, and will .appreciate any advice or information by people who are well acquainted with the different districts.