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The Marti Friedlander Photographic Award
John Miller
John Miller
Ngaitewake-ki-uta, Uritaniwha, Ngati Rehia hapu of Ngapuhi
Photographer
  • John Miller
  • Biography
Related links

John Miller was interviewed by Denys Trussell for the Cultural Icons project  Aug 2011, The Depot.

Milestones
  • 1950
    Born North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1961
    Earliest images – views from Auckland Harbour Bridge & Auckland Zoo
  • 1967
    First images of an anti-Vietnam War demonstration;
    First images of a Māori cultural event (meeting house opening)
  • 1969
    Began photographing demonstrations in earnest while at Victoria University, Wellington
  • 1971
    Began photographing new wave of Māori protests at Waitangi
  • 1977
    Photographs Māori land March
  • 1981
    Photographs Bastion Point occupation
  • 1950
    Photographs Springbok Rugby Tour – widely shown in New Zealand and overseas
  • 2003
    Media Peace Prize Lifetime Award in recognition of his photography, and its role in helping to promote the cause of peace
  • 2007
    Audio-visual presentation of 350+ slides on 1981 Springbok Tour in Restless group exhibition, MIC Toi Rerehiko Gallery
  • 2009
    Māori protest photos in group exhibition Photo Histories
    at Govett-Brewster Art Gallery;
    Marti Friedlander Photographic Award recipient

Biography

John Miller - Photographer
Ngaitewake-ki-uta, Uritaniwha, Ngati Rehia hapu of Ngapuhi

John Miller is self-described as a 'sympathetic observer' of anti-war, civil rights, anti-apartheid, anti-nuclear and Māori political protests; He has captured some momentous events and moments in the struggle for peace. In 2003 Miller received a Media Peace Prize Lifetime Award in recognition of his photography and its role in helping to promote peace.

Attending Victoria University in 1969-70, John then worked as a Craccum (Auckland University Students' Association Magazine) photographer in 1971-72.  He became focused on the various protest movements taking place at the time, the activities of the anti-Vietnam War and anti-South African sports tour movements and the first Waitangi protests before moving to record the historic Land March and Bastion Point occupation.  His work reveals the connections between peace and equality and that peace will not come without freedom for all members of society.  He considers himself a self described sympathetic observer of these manifestations of civilian dissent, saying “I tend to support the causes that motivate such protests, rallies or meetings”.

John Miller’s photos documenting social and political dissent and cultural events, for more than four decades, have featured in exhibitions and publications, including the books By Batons and Barbed Wire, on the 1981 Springbok Tour; Negligent Neighbour, about East Timor, and Hikoi - Forty Years of Māori Protest.

 
(B&W) Land March 1975-2004 Lambton Quay (time transition).

 

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