New New Zealand Music Hall of Famer Shona Laing!

So pleased to hear about singer / songwriter Shona Laing's award this week at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, and her induction into the NZ Music Hall of Fame (what, she wasn't there already!?).  She's had a long career, of course, but I've known her a little bit over the past decade, and photographed her at various points along the way. So here's a small gallery of a few of those images - my favourite memory would have to be at WOMAD in '09, when she pointed at me from the stage (mid-song, if I remember correctly!) and said 'hey, it's Ngati Toronto!' - my Maori nickname, given to me by our great friend Mahinarangi Tocker.  Sadly Mahina's not with us any more, but I'm pleased to know a little of her (highly irreverent) humour survives!

One of my favourite photos here in the office is the first one in this gallery, which I took of her and Mahina at the New Zealand International Arts Festival in '04; it also became the cover photo for Mahina's 2005 album, The Mongrel In Me, which they recorded together with a supergroup of Kiwi musicians; and later, I got them both to sign a print for me, which is always nearby when I'm working at my desk.

I miss them both - hopefully Shona might come & play Sydney some time, though!