49 images Created 23 Aug 2021
Roger Te Tai
I first met Roger Te Tai when I photographed his partner, the public speaker and life coach, Sally Anderson, for a story in North & South magazine.
We struck up a friendship and over the following years I documented aspects of Roger’s journey connecting back to his place and people.
In 2009 he had planned to have his long-planned tā moko tattooed however, it wasn’t to be; the night before his appointment he received a call to say that the tattooist had to go to a family tangi
It was another three years before Roger was ready to try again and in the meantime he and Sally were married in Queenstown with his whānau all there, a first for the family for many decades.
2009: Te Hana. The preparation; Roger and Sally ready themselves for the following day's tattoo, only to find it has to be postponed. –––
2010: Queenstown. The wedding; families come together.–––
2012: Whangarei. The tattoo: by Dave Hart of Native Ink.–––
2014: Ohiwa. Roger Te Tai wears the tā moko.
22nd August 2021, Roger died at his home, the result of a heart condition.
We struck up a friendship and over the following years I documented aspects of Roger’s journey connecting back to his place and people.
In 2009 he had planned to have his long-planned tā moko tattooed however, it wasn’t to be; the night before his appointment he received a call to say that the tattooist had to go to a family tangi
It was another three years before Roger was ready to try again and in the meantime he and Sally were married in Queenstown with his whānau all there, a first for the family for many decades.
2009: Te Hana. The preparation; Roger and Sally ready themselves for the following day's tattoo, only to find it has to be postponed. –––
2010: Queenstown. The wedding; families come together.–––
2012: Whangarei. The tattoo: by Dave Hart of Native Ink.–––
2014: Ohiwa. Roger Te Tai wears the tā moko.
22nd August 2021, Roger died at his home, the result of a heart condition.
