It is always fascinating working alongside some of Sydney’s leading architects, manufacturers and builders, photographing their exquisite property projects around greater Sydney. The most recent assignments have been on the Northern Beaches and Sydney’s North Shore. From a photography perspective, the first step is to gain an insight into what their clients needs were, then consider how best to exemplify the way in which the architect has brought this vision to life. By choosing to use professional architecture photography instead of just ‘record’ shots or ‘snapshots’ it allows architects and builders to showcase their grand design expertise to the highest level. As you might imagine, many professionals are so busy working on projects that they don’t always find time to keep their website folios up to date, yet it is a vital marketing tool for potential clients to see the unique skill, creativity and functionality on offer.
The home featuring in this post is a newly completed internal and external renovation by Michelle Walker Architects. Director Michelle Walker heads a leading Northern Beaches architectural firm based in Balgowlah. She is well-recognised in her profession with outstanding designs for residential architecture, interiors and outdoor spaces.
Michelle’s client brief was to upgrade the home to make it more suitable for the family’s needs which included a more suitable environment for their teenagers. There was also a desire to renew the character of the home to give it more presence, befitting the spectacular location, harbour views and courtyard design. Michelle was given access to all areas of the house which allowed her to come up with a design focusing on lines, angles and colours.
From a photography perspective, it was very important to observe and then reflect how the new colour palette and architectural angles fit within the relaxing, outlook: blue skies, water views along with the sandy tones of the shoreline. Attention to detail, a careful observation of the best times of day for most fitting light were required to complete this shoot.
Michelle says she is most proud of, “the external colours and substantial impact the colours have had on the character of the home. The clients were brave enough to go with a bold and considered paint scheme, which emphasised the structural elements of the home, rather than choosing to have all the external surfaces matching”. The colour palette had to feature a pale sea green ‘Seaglass’ as it was a favourite colour of the client inspired by the ocean views of the home, which also complimented the home’s existing furnishings.
The internal works included improvements to the teenager bedrooms, the renovation of existing staircases, new flooring, guest accommodation and the creation of more space for leisure and relaxation.
The exterior works included a new entry and entry canopy featuring natural timber, steel with glass, new balconies, balustrades, new decking, stairs connecting the central courtyard to the upper floor terrace, new external colours and soft landscaping.
What challenges Michelle Walker was able to solve:
“The two biggest challenges were to create an appropriate entry to the home (as the existing entry was uncovered and via a pair of sliding doors) and to improve the usability of the main outdoor areas of the home – the courtyard and the upper floor terrace. ”
“The new entry is marked by a timber & steel structure with glass over, providing an entry canopy & shelter to the new timber front door with round timber door handle. A new lift stop &lift door was also incorporated the new entry, without increasing the footprint of the home.”
“A new steel & timber staircase now links the courtyard to the upper floor terrace, which means the upper floor terrace is being used more. Originally the bbq was planned for the courtyard, but it has been relocated to the upper floor terrace…what a view for the chef.”
Why Michelle Walker chooses to work with Jetcharm Builders:
“I have completed many projects with Jetcharm over the years. They make my job easy, with their care and attention on-site, good workmanship, experience and good relationships with clients. The clients for this project had used Jetcharm for their previous renovation too.”
It was absolutely wonderful to see the magnificent makeover Michelle has instilled in this Chinamans Beach home and the positive impact it has had on the homeowners. Ever since I can recall, I have always had a fascination for understanding how things were invented, designed and built. In my very early days I studied Ancient Greek and Roman Architecture, Art, Art History and Technical Drawing, hence my love for industrial and architectural photography assignments just like this.
To see other examples of my work: interiors and architecture folioTo be in touch please call: +61 2 9939 5553 or email us. Tania Niwa GM Photog AIPP /Fellow NZIPP
Earlier this year I was approached by renowned Australian photographer and educator, Matt Granger, to take part in his popular YouTube interview series ‘Inside The Photographers Studio’. In the interview you will hear me speak about the beginnings of my love for photography influenced by my father since the age of three. I then discuss how I developed my personal style and skills as a fine art, portrait and commercial photographer over the last three decades.
It was rather humorous being on the other side of the camera! After the initial butterflies settled, I was able to speak about my love and passion for photography and draw upon all the defining moments that have helped shape and develop my passion and career for photography. From delving into my childhood growing up in Taranaki (New Zealand) and making the big move to Australia 19 years ago, I have recently realised that my biggest motivator and driving force is how i can use my gift of photography to make a difference to others.
Matt Granger’s YouTube channel has grown to become one of the largest and most-viewed photography channels worldwide thanks to his friendly nature and down to earth approach that has allowed him to become a well sought-after photography workshop host and speaker at events worldwide.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to become a part of the renowned series that showcases other leading international photographers. Thank you to Matt and Tina for making this interview possible and allowing me to share my love of photography.
For the past two weeks my home city of Manly was transformed into a highly professional surf city when it played host to the HurleyAustralian Open of Surfing. This event and the buzz it created has been an absolute highlight of the year!
As a teenager back in the eighties, my passion for photography stemmed from surfing. Having grown up in a coastal town on the North Taranaki coast of New Zealand, there was [and still is] a really strong surfing culture. Our province offers incredible surf breaks, where within one hour’s drive you will usually always find an offshore wind with a decent break to surf. Some of the best breaks like Stent Road are not always for the faint hearted. Amongst Kiwi surfers the province/people are fondly referred to by the same name as a popular surf brand, ‘Taranaki Hardcore’.Hurley Pro Australian Open of Surfing Winners, Brazilian Adriana de Souza and Hawaiian Carissa Moore in Manly, NSW Australia.
During my youth some of the best surfers in the country came from our Waitara Bar Board Rider Club including NZ Champions like Jason Matthews, Motu Mataa and my cousin Brent ‘Hench’ Hutchieson who took out the Open Champ title when he was just a Junior (as did Motu before him). Most weekends I went on surfing adventures with our club to spots around the coast. Sometimes we would trek through paddocks, over barbed wire fences, weaving through cow paddies and sheep to secluded rocky points like Puniho Road. This would then be followed by some big stints in the Waitara High School darkroom processing black and white film, then printing my favourite photos which would often be published in the local community newspaper.
With a smile, I remember surfing posters plastered all over my bedroom walls (oh and…Bob Marley posters on my ceiling). My favourite international surfers were Californian Tom Curren (three time world champion), Aussie Tom Carroll (two time world champ, three times Pipe Masters Winner) and Tahitian Vetea ‘Poto’ David. Down the track (living in Sydney) I was lucky enough to get to know and take portraits of Poto and his French model girlfriend who both stayed with my Kiwi friends each time they visited ManlyWorld Champ Carissa Moore (above left) with Pro Junior World Champ Ella Williams who surfed in Round 4 heats together and both progressed to the next round of 12.
Fast forward 20 years and my Kiwi business partner and great mate, Tony Kemp, has brought Niwa Photography back to the surfing world through Ella Williams, the current Junior World Champion whom Tony is mentoring and managing. Under Tony’s guidance and motto ‘Imagine, Dream, Believe’, the 19yr old Kiwi from Whangamata has reached new heights, finding herself ranked 10th in the 2014 World Qualifying Series after competing at the Australian Open of Surfing in Manly. At the event she surfed alongside inspirational surfers like current world champion Carissa Moore, shark-attack survivor and motivational speaker Bethany Hamilton whom the movie Soul Surfer was created about. Our role was to document and capture a range of imagery of Ella for marketing, branding and social media. This meant that our Niwa Photography team were down at the beach covering all the action of the 2014 Hurley Australian Open of Surfing. As a result of the Williams family being so happy with what we have achieved with them, I’m now officially part of the Team Williams family and am helping with ongoing photography/social media strategy. Niwa Photography weekly team meetings have taken on a new level of smiles with this new Kemp-Williams-Niwa partnership. My assistant photographer Jack Coghlan and intern Shannon Pomare are mad surfers, so this is a all a bit surreal for them. It is also a great opportunity for our other intern Vanessa Zhang to use her fantastic journalism talents. Carissa Moore showing her crazy, amazing talent and strength in the final of the Hurley Pro in Manly (yes she successfully pulled this one off).
Runner-up and fellow Hawaiian Alessa Quizon showing her class at the Hurley Pro.
Unbelievably awesome talent and new leader on the 2014 ASP Qualification Series Adriana de Souza.
Crowd favourite Australian Julian Wilson was a shining star of the event pulling off a myriad of 360s. It was a photographers dream to follow his progress. Unfortunately in the final he just didn’t manage to finish off his aerials like he did throughout the event.
So what’s next on the surfing calendar??? Well just when we thought things couldn’t get better… I have an invitation from Team Ella Williams to the 2014 ASP World Surfing awards at the Gold Coast next Wednesday night. It’s going to be incredible being with Ella’s family to see her presented with the Pro Junior World Title trophy in the company of icons of the sport. Ella made history last year being the first New Zealander ever to take a world surfing title. Imagine Dream Believe:-)
We will be posting more about Ella’s journey next up.
Here are our latest artworks from a family portrait session at their home on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Meet caring big sister Sophie, and her cheeky little sister, Lucia.
Part of the magic of capturing a family is being prepared for the unexpected and seeing what unfolds. Our best laid plans went out the window when Lucia had alternate ideas of what she was keen to do and not to do, so we collaborated with their mum Allison, to find a solution that would keep Lucia interested and in the same spot for more than a few seconds. The teepee and the intrigue of a jar of lollies saved the day whilst also creating something special and unique for this Terrey Hills family.
The Wildman’s motivation for family portraits was to have some personalised artwork that reflects the special love and connection between Sophie and Lucia.
Here’s what Allison had to say about their experience working with us which we received as a fantastic Google review:
“Thank you so much for capturing our daughters, we absolutely love the photos and have them proudly displayed in our living area for all to see! You may recall our youngest daughter wasn’t 100% that day and being rather naughty – not at all interested in having her photograph taken. I really appreciated the efforts and the patience you demonstrated to ensure we came with a fantastic selection of photographs. Your assistant and the distractions she provided during the photo shoot were well thought out and very helpful.”
Allison further commented, “I particularly liked your organisation from the very beginning of the process, including your interest in getting an understanding of the girls, their individual personalities and what they enjoyed doing, down to the very practical advice re best choices on what to wear and where and when to have the photographs taken (given we wanted the photos to be taken outdoors). There was a lot we needed to think about and you made it all very easy and straightforward with your pre-planning and professionalism on the day. Thank you again so much – we adore the photos, they bring a smile to our faces at each glance and I am already looking forward to the next time you photograph the girls.”
If you would like to enquire about having family portraits please contact us or view our portfolio. We offer a complimentary consultation in our peaceful, child-friendly studio just behind Warringah Mall, Brookvale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
A Niwa Photography photography gift certificate is a heartfelt gift for family and friends that keeps on giving. Photography gift certificates are beautifully presented and customised (free postage). We have a special deal that gives you a $500 gift voucher for just $150.
Each family portrait gift voucher includes a $150 portrait session which can be taken at either our Northern Beaches studio; your home or an outdoor location such as Balmoral Beach, Mosman; Freshwater Beach; Centennial Park, Sydney; Newport Beach; Tamarama Beach; Eastern Suburb, Sydney. You will also have a $350 credit towards any purchase. Check out examples of our product range and some of our packages.
Meet Sydney Yoga Dance Teacher Panagiota (Penny) Cook who we have just produced a series of photographic images for her Bodytone Yoga website. Penny is the epitome of calm, caring, spirited, energetic and completely grounded.
Penny’s goal and photography brief was to convey a beautiful feeling rather than have people just focus on her body. She explained that if a posture encourages a heart opening, she wanted to convey that openness, warmth, joy and freedom or a feeling of strength, balance, focus and peace. Penny is extremely humble and emphasised “I’m not perfect with my yoga postures – this is a life journey – but I do everything with love, playfulness and creativity – combining my knowledge of yoga so far, as well as intuition. I help people heal and feel good from the inside-out and this is the message I want to capture.”
What Penny loves about her profession and what keeps her motivated:
“I love that my yoga path and therapy work involves every fibre of my being. I don’t need to separate body, mind and spirit with what I do. I can bring love, joy, creativity, understanding, care and my full presence into every single day. This is a lifelong calling and it keeps me motivated to know that I will always be a student of yoga and life. I am so blessed to work with such wonderful people! I love the role I play in people’s journeys. It’s very special being someone’s yoga therapist. I honour the trust I receive and delight in the transformations I witness with them. I really enjoy the variety and all the amazing people and groups I practice with – one to one, corporate groups, athletes, actors, dancers, school children, mums to be and mums with bubs…you name it. I also love the freedom in being able to cross over my artistic/performing arts side with Yogadance – an art-form I have been developing for the past seven years. I work with a small group of talented yogi-dancers as a vehicle for creative expression and inquiry into what it means to “be”. We have lots of fun!
Penny’s yoga teacher background:
“I have been a yoga teacher since 2005 and one of my favourite things is sharing my love for yoga, people and life every single day. Initially trained in Hatha and Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga lineages, I have since been deepening my knowledge and experience in centering practices for feeling at home in your body, grounded and focused, core support for rehabilitation, optimum body alignment principles for therapy and body-mind efficiency, freedom of movement for a sense of ease in your daily life, strength and flexibility training for fitness and dance, as well as more specialised practices like prenatal and postnatal yoga, kids yoga, relaxation and meditation studies. The learning never stops!
I am also just about to graduate as a Yoga Therapist after a powerful year of training. So basically I love to know about you and how yoga can be personalised for You. My passion is ‘how we help you feel healthy, balanced and happy’. I have a great respect for the yoga tradition and all my teachers but I also like to be very honest about how I incorporate yoga into my daily life, so that it feels natural for me. I enjoy connecting to my body-mind-spirit in my individual way and inspiring others to do the same.”
The experience of being photographed:
“It felt Beautiful! Tania, you are such a joy to be around and I felt like I could simply shine without feeling nervous or self-conscious. I love that you are so thorough and patient and that we took our time to make sure we had plenty of photos to choose from. I’m looking forward to doing more work together in the future.”
Yoga photography conveying character:
“I love the images! They captured the sweet, joyous, down to earth feeling that characterises my nature and how I work with people. I think this will attract the right match of people for me. I’m looking forward to updating my website and having these professional images for all my marketing collateral. I believe they will help me present really well into the world as a Yoga teacher, therapist, creative, and nice human being. Thank you so much!”
What’s on the horizon for Penny:
“I am so excited about my upcoming trip to New York! I am treating myself to a month of dance training at one of my favourite dance schools, Broadway Dance Center. I have always wanted to immerse myself deeper into the creative arts and the yoga has helped me connect more and more with this, safely and happily. I also plan to enjoy Broadway shows and live jazz, take voice and singing lessons and just have fun! I do these things to nourish my spirit and top up my enthusiasm for life so I always have plenty to give to myself and others too.”
For enquiries about Yoga Photography with Tania Niwa please drop us a line here
There are some very special people who share a heartfelt passion for the continued success of our little hometown of Waitara on the Taranaki coast of New Zealand’s North Island. I’ve been collaborating with two highly successful friends who also grew up in Waitara and share this heartfelt passion. They are Tony Kemp (former Kiwi Rugby League International/Warriors Coach and entrepreneur) and his best mate Bruce Sharrock (Director of ESPORTIF INTERNATIONAL Sports Management).
Here’s an insight into what we are up to and some background info as told by Tony Kemp:
“Growing up in Waitara as a kid was so bloody cool back in the day. The town was thriving and the economic wheels were well in motion with the likes of Borthwicks [Freezing Works], Subaru, Swandri, Methanex [Methanol Plants at Motunui and Waitara Valley] filling the pockets of the community.
As a kid life was full of adventure. Modern technology only existed at Sisarichs’ Pool Parlour. We survived on instinct and lived not such a PC life. We could climb trees, jump off the bridge into the Waitara River or stay at mates for days without a complaint. If you wanted to phone someone you had to head down to the post office with your six cents to call them, and hopefully the phone box was vacant when you got there. You would walk half way across town to visit a mate not knowing if he was home! In a nut shell we contributed to a healthy lifestyle because we had to. There was no other way but to get off your bottom and get on with it.Fast forward to 2013. How things have changed!!! Mobile phones, PlayStation, Xbox, social media and the internet have all replaced what was once a healthy lifestyle.
In 2001 after the suicide of my whangai brother Phil, a group of us came up with the idea of holding an Inspirational day at Manukorihi Intermediate School led by Tania Niwa and her whanau (family). We wanted to provide HOPE to as many kids as possible. We used local identities to demonstrate that if your desire was great enough to succeed then anything was possible. Jason Mathews (NZ Surf Champ), Tania Niwa (Internationally renowned photographer), Tui Katene (NZ Touch Rep), Jarrod Martin (Black Sox Softball World Champ Team Captain), Bevan Martin (Black Sox), Rangi Kipa (International Maori Artist) and Julie Paama-Pengally (Int Maori Artist) spoke of what it took to make it to the top. The day was a huge success!
In May 2013 we went back to Manukorihi to hold another Inspirational Day after hearing that our old school needed a little motivation. Our key motivation was to instil some inspiration into our young rangatahi (children) who filled the seats we once sat on. We spoke of goal setting, our journeys, and what sacrifices we made to get to the top of our chosen professions. It was well received and has further fuelled our ambition to support our local town with future events that will continue to build confidence in our community of Waitara.
It was an amazing experience interacting with the students and seeing the glow of excitement on their faces as Tony and Bruce inspired the students to dream big and choose pathways for success. For me, Manukorihi Intermediate School holds a big part of my childhood memories. With my dad as the school principal up until his retirement last year, we spent several years living in the school house, so the expansive fields, netball/basketball courts, bushland and gardens of Manukorihi was the best adventure playground for me and my siblings Nic and Jeff.
It was also very educational for me to see what initiatives Manukorihi Intermediate teachers have set for their students and the contribution my family have made to help children prosper. My sister Nic Niwa and my Mum Raewynne Niwa are both very respected teachers at the school. Both Mum and Dad were teachers when I was a student there. Now Mum and Nic are teaching my friends children!
This is a super sized (1.25 metre) canvas artwork I’ve just produced for a Sydney family featuring Owae Marae, Waitara and the majestic Mt Taranaki (also known as Maunga Taranaki or Mt Egmont). The traditional carved Maori Meeting House belongs to the Maori people of the Te Atiawa tribe, from which I descend as does the proud new owner of this artwork Erana Naughton (nee Moore). Waitara is situated on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Erana has kindly allowed me to share an insight into why it was very meaningful for her to purchase this artwork. She was just five years old when her parents parted and she moved from Taranaki to Sydney with her mum who is from the opposite side of the North Island (of Ngati Porou tribe). Erana said she didn’t see her dad again until she was 22 years old. One year later in 2007 she chose Owae Marae as the setting to be married to her husband Paul who has a mix of Australian, Lebanese and Irish heritage.
Erana’s dad Tai Moore is the oldest of 12 siblings. It was when Erana was visiting her uncle Peter in Perth that she first saw a framed photo of the Marae that I had produced back in the nineties. Erana, having just given birth to her third child, decided she would love a calming scene of her homeland as a central focus in their home. It now sits on a wall opposite their wedding photo. Imagine her Australian born children growing up seeing The Marae image every day and how this will stimulate conversation and education about their Maori culture and customs.
Officially named as Owae-whai-tara Marae (but affectionately referred to as Owae Marae for short), it is a central focus and source of pride for my small hometown of around 4000 people. It provides a sense of identity and a direct connection with our Maori ancestors. The Marae is strategically placed at one of the highest points in our town, overlooking the Waitara River, which the town was built on both sides of. In the early days before all the trees grew so big, there was a clear view of the river mouth and the Tasman Sea. The mountain is a central source of spirituality and is greatly treasured by all the tribes [of the province] of Taranaki.
I have fond and vivid memories of the morning this image was created back in 1992 when I was in my early twenties. I had a deal with my boss at the time Photographer John Crawford, that we would use his 500 mm telephoto lens on his Mamiya RZ67 film camera as my kit of lenses were just babies compared to his. You might not realise but it was taken before sunrise where the light was very gentle. After a week of false starts because the mountain would be hiding behind clouds, we arranged to take this image from an elevated point, which was at the neighbouring house from their garage (of the Morehu family). I had grand plans of photographing from here again last year, but the trees you see here have grown so much that it is no longer possible. I’m thinking a cherry picker might be worth a try one day.
The Three Sisters rock formations has always been a much loved scene growing up in New Zealand. The funny thing is, I don’t ever remember visiting this very spot and standing right here in all my 42 years, yet I have always been surrounded by artwork depicting them. In my 18 years living in Australia there have only been a handful of opportunities to catch a glimpse of this seascape when driving south from Auckland along the North Taranaki coast towards my childhood home of Waitara.
My cousin Erika Muna Lee (nee Niwa), together with her daughter Te Manu Lee and I were this time returning to Auckland from our weekend as guest artists in the ‘Call of Taranaki Exhibition’ at Puke Ariki Museum, New Plymouth and were on an incredible high with all the amazing experiences and opportunities that had unexpectedly presented themselves during our time in our home province.
We never imagined our day would be topped in any way. Earlier that morning Muna had taken me on a VERY SPECIAL educational and spiritual journey to Pukerangiora Pa, an ancient Maori settlement and stronghold where our Te Atiawa tribal ancestors once lived. For those who are gifted like Muna, they can feel and see the spirits of our tupuna (ancestors) here.
The pa sits high on a bluff about eight kilometres upstream from the Waitara River mouth, on a spur of land that looks out towards the ocean in the distance. It rises about 100 metres above the water on a sudden loop in the river. The scene is expansive and incredibly beautiful. There was no wind, the sun was shining and the birds were twittering, I almost felt like I was dreaming. I had been looking forward to this day for several months since reconnecting with Muna at our family reunion earlier in the year. I hadn’t explored this land since aged 11 yrs with my classmates on a school excursion with my dad who was also our teacher. Whilst at the Pa, Muna took Te Manu and I to a sacred ‘puna’ (spring) once used to heal the sick. The location which is known to only a few, is hidden in bushland on a hillside. I will share more about this experience and privilege in a future post.
Still buzzing from our morning session, we were about to pass through Tongaporutu about an hour north of Waitara and saw a huge sign ‘The Three Sisters’. At a whim I felt a desire to visit them, so immediately asked Muna who was driving, she was just as eager to explore. Normally with trips back and forth between Waitara and Auckland (where I fly back to Sydney from) there isn’t time for unplanned stops. On this occasion however as a result of something unexpected happening, my business meeting in Auckland was postponed so there was no longer a deadline to return. We detoured alongside the Tongaporutu river, which is lined with glorious old baches (small beach shacks) and followed the signs to a car park. Here we saw another sign advising ‘caution – low tide access only’ to The Three Sisters. Muna and I then of course, looked straight to the river (pictured above left) to discover… it was low tide! This was a high five moment to smile about and add to our memory bank.
As we walked along the river for about one kilometre towards the river mouth, I was fully prepared with a myriad of Canon camera gear. My brisk walk turned into an eager run along the sand. I was busting to see the view and the mountain which was out in all its glory. With Mount Taranaki it is like a game of hide and seek… you never know when she will appear from behind the clouds, and when she does, she casts the most magnificent magical spell upon you… you feel soooooo alive in her presence!!!!
This place holds special meaning for my family on my mum, Raewynne’s side. Mum’s grandparents were the very first family to build a bach along this river. She has lots of funny stories to tell about the mischief her sibblings would get up to and hours spent around the rocks while their grandparents fished. My Aunty Lyn has just told me she and Mum used to play around The Three Sisters, and when visiting at night would get to enjoy seeing glow worms in the rock formations. As a youngster I recall going with my Nanna, Sylvia to purchase a brilliant painting of ‘The Three Sisters’ and Mt Taranaki she commissioned her artist friend Ray van’t Hof to create. Although Nanna has since past, The Three Sisters is a trigger to remember her. My family get to see this artwork every time we visit Grandad, Mel who is now 94 years old and lives on a hill at Spotswood in New Plymouth (with another magnificent view of the mountain). I also have a daily reminder of this Tongaporutu scene at my home in Manly, with an artwork by renown Taranaki artist Peter Lambert titled Tongaporutu.
Looking at the scene, you might be wondering where the third sister is. Well, she doesn’t exist any more. She has eroded away. From this particular angle you might very well consider the peak of Mount Taranaki to be standing in as the third sister. Images from this day will be included in an online gallery of Taranaki Landscapes and fine art to be released in time for Christmas gift orders.
Muna, Te Manu and I felt like time stood still here… we soaked up the atmosphere for four hours until we heard the tide turn… we never even looked at our watches… Something else happened while we were there… again, we were astonished… this is the start of another story…… Light punching through the darkness. The awakening. Thanks Tony Kemp for naming my cave image above so aptly and using the image for one of your daily inspirations.
Meet well known motivational speaker and Kiwi Sporting personality Tony Kemp. Tony and I are developing two new ventures in New Zealand, one being the brand ‘Tony Kemp – Better People’. Tony is a great friend and a very popular figure in our home town of Waitara, Taranaki in New Zealand.
At the age of 19, Tony embarked on a professional career in Rugby League. He was contracted to both the NRL and Super League where he played for the Newcastle Knights and Leeds. He was also an international representative for New Zealand, having played 25 test matches. Upon retirement, Tony embarked on a coaching career with the New Zealand Warriors as an assistant before taking the head coach’s role.
Sporting aside, Tony also has a real head for business having been a director in companies such as Hawera Village Ltd (retirement village), Childzone Ltd (childcare centres), Playsmart Ltd (design company) and Te Ara Enterprises (consulting company).
For the last three years he has been responsible for supporting the delivery and re-aligning rugby league after it had received a very damning report by Sport New Zealand with respect to the negative state of the game. Tasks included the implementation and execution of a highly regarded strategic plan resulting in the code’s progression from a dark past, to being held in high regard for its vision, leadership and integrity.
With all the experience he has in business and in empowering others to succeed, together we have created a ‘Tony Kemp’ brand. A key part of his business will be to share his journey as a motivational speaker so that others can gain inspiration to achieve their dreams.
Tony has an incredible gift for helping people from all walks of life gain inspiration and motivation. He creates pathways for communities/people to understand how to unleash their potential. Tony has a rare talent for being able to communicate his message through visual teachings, often drawing pictures or creating very clear images in your mind to help his message resonate and be remembered.
Some of the students in our home town received the benefits of his skills when we held an ‘Inspiration Day’ at Manukorihi Intermediate School alongside his best mate Bruce Sharrock (director of Esportif sports management for elite athletes like All Blacks). The key focus of the day for all three of us was to help students ignite their passion to dream and show them how to set themselves a path to success. I’ll share more on that story once the news article comes out next week.
I’m currently in New Zealand and have just produced the imagery for the Tony Kemp website which is being built. In the meanwhile you can share in Tony Kemp’s inspiration on Facebook.
