NZW Fellows: Xan Harding
A self-confessed “nerd” with a penchant for policy and a passion for sociology has been recognised for his commitment to New Zealand’s wine industry.
He met his best mate Tony Bish, fell for the Hawke’s Bay harvest, and by the next year had his camera equipment in the cellar, capturing the harvest along the way. Richard hasn’t missed a vintage since, either working with wines or rising pre-dawn for shoots in vineyards and wineries.
“I would freelance the rest of the year but always take off two months for vintage.” He’s marking his ‘40 Vintages’ of images with a documentary on the people, places and photos that have marked his career, in a celebration of New Zealand’s wine industry and homage to Hawke’s Bay. “It’s home for me and I’m quite passionate about it.” The documentary includes interviews with ‘mates’ like Tony, Steve Smith, and Kate Radburnd, as well as Craggy Range family owners Mary-Jeanne and David Peabody, who have been “a major part of my wine life,” he says. “Getting their story on the wine industry”. Richard’s ‘40 Vintages’ also includes an exhibition at Arts Inc Heretaunga, opening on 9 October and sponsored by Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers.
“That will be a big show with all the imagery from the 40 vintages.” There will also be a non-dialogue 45-minute edit of the documentary set to live music, which will play at the gallery with musician friends he has worked with and photographed when not immersed in vintage.
