L-R: Bodie Friend of Tainui, Mātaatua, Waiariki, and Te Tai Rāwhiti, is the first winner of the Kīngi Tūheitia Portraiture Award, having a hongi with the Kīngitanga monarch at the award’s ceremony in Wellington. Warriors rugby league club staffer Bodie Friend​ has won the inaugural Kīngi Tūheitia Portraiture Award for a photograph he took of his great-uncle. Friend was announced as the winner of the $20,000 award at a ceremony at Wellington’s TSB Arena on Thursday attended by Kīngi Tūheitia​, the Māori King. To be recognised like this ... I’m shocked.”BODIE FRIEND Bodie Friend won the inaugural Kīngi Tūheitia Portraiture Award for this photograph of his great-uncle Pat. At the gallery, Kīngi Tūheitia opened an exhibition which features the 50 finalists’ entries.

Source: Stuff May 27, 2021 03:00 UTC