Dave is co-owner of the cars with his partner Catherine ‘a car lady through and through’.

They take me to another shed. I am hit with ‘sensory overload’ as we enter the two-storey building.

Model cars, commissioned art pieces, old car signs, modern car signs, Ford flags, antique tools, old-school petrol bowsers were all aesthetically placed around an incredible collection of chrome, steel, mirrors and windows that are attached to an eclectic array of American and British classics ranging from the early 20th century through to the 2000s.

The sheer cost, restoration and maintenance of these relics boggled my mind but when you’re living the car dream as Dave and Catherine are, it’s not about cost, or the hours spent maintaining and cleaning them. It’s about a shared love of cars of all shapes and sizes. It’s what they do daily on the Great South Road.

Great South Road is New Zealand’s longest road, starting in Auckland’s swanky shopping quarter of Newmarket and ending in Ohaupo, Waikato Dairy country. Used by or home to car dealers, churches, residences, food outlets, farmers, the homeless, street rappers, volunteers, and schools, it is a road that intersects and connects our past, the present, and future.  

It remains one of the most enduring images in New Zealand’s history, a photograph of an elderly kuia holding the hand of a little girl as they walk down a dusty road in Northland.

It was September 14, 1975. Fifty marchers set off from Te Hāpua in the far north to walk 1000 kilometres to Parliament in Wellington. At the head of the march was 79-year-old Dame Whina Cooper and her nine-year-old granddaughter, Irenee.

The hikoi was a protest against further loss of Māori land and the image of Dame Whina has come to symbolise the march and the steely determination of a great Māori leader.
Dame Whina’s cry of “not one more acre of Māori land” inspired the hīkoi, but little is known of those who helped organise it and who accompanied her on the long journey South.

The “Hīkoi: Long Shadow of the March” series features an inspiring episode titled “Rose Raharuhi Spicer,” which delves into the life and contributions of Rose, a pivotal figure in advocating for Māori rights and social justice in New Zealand.

This episode highlights Rose’s journey from her early involvement in the landmark hīkoi walking along side Dame Whina Cooper. Through intimate interviews and archival footage, viewers gain insight into Rose’s unwavering commitment to her people and the lasting legacy of her work in the ongoing fight for equality and recognition of Māori rights and culture.

In the “O’Town Dreaming” series, “Luafa Finding His Voice” episode captures the journey of Luafa, a young artist from Otara, as he navigates the challenges and triumphs of expressing his identity and heritage through music.

This episode delves into Luafa’s creative process, showcasing how his dedication to music inspire of his families traditional values. Through his journey, viewers are invited to witness the transformative power of music in shaping personal and community narratives, set against the vibrant backdrop of Otara’s rich cultural landscape.

Our plan had been to film a series of short interviews with business owners and locals on a particular stretch of Great South Road, Manurewa.

That changed very quickly when some locals took serious umbrage at our film crew shooting on their home patch. We knew this because they told us so. They didn’t mince words or withhold any aggressive subtext.

Less than 75 metres from where we had encountered an uncomfortable reception, we met ‘Te Rata Hikairo’, a local educator. Raised in the area Te Rata passionately explained Manurewa as an eclectic mix of social struggle, business, the middle class, and middle-upper class, but which was most often portrayed as a place of hardship.

We felt a pang of guilt, that my perception of Manurewa was very much the stereotype. We had not for a second considered that perhaps the response by some locals was in fact their response to outsiders only seeing their home suburb framed as a place of criminality and dysfunction.

After meeting Te Rata we met Louis and his wife Shiloh, a couple living on the street after losing their State House in Otara. Louis candidly stating he used to pass the homeless and say “‘look at those jokers sitting out there bumming, sleeping on the street”, only to find himself in the same position.

What was remarkable about Louis and Shiloh is they remained upbeat, even grateful for the experience in what it has taught them.

For us, it was a sobering and thought-provoking day on Great South Road.

Great South Road is New Zealand’s longest road, starting in Auckland’s swanky shopping quarter of Newmarket and ending in Ohaupo, Waikato Dairy country. Used by or home to car dealers, churches, residences, food outlets, farmers, the homeless, street rappers, volunteers, and schools, it is a road that intersects and connects our past, the present, and future.  

The Heart of the City is a promotional video campaign developed for the Auckland Council, aimed at celebrating and championing Auckland’s city centre. The campaign’s primary goal is to highlight the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere of the city, showcasing it as a thriving hub for businesses and a desirable place to live, work, and visit.

Through carefully crafted visuals, we captured the energy and diversity that define Auckland’s city centre. The video paints a vivid picture of a city that embraces everyone who walks its streets, reflecting the unique spirit and inclusivity that Auckland is known for.

By spreading the word about the city’s vibrant heart, this campaign seeks to reinforce Auckland as a destination of choice, ensuring that its city centre remains a lively and exciting place for all.