Laurence Aberhart

A DigitalNZ Story by Courtney Johnston

Laurence Aberhart (born 1949) is simply one of New Zealand's best photographers. That's all there is to it.

new zealand photographers

Image: Taranaki (The heavens declare the glory of God), New Plymouth, 14 May 1986

Taranaki (The heavens declare the glory of God), New Plymouth, 14 May 1986

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Headstone. Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch. From the portfolio: View - 10 Photographs by Laurence Aberhart

Headstone. Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch. From the portfolio: View - 10 Photographs by Laurence Aberhart

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Lyttelton Heads, Lyttelton. From the portfolio: View - 10 Photographs by Laurence Aberhart

Lyttelton Heads, Lyttelton. From the portfolio: View - 10 Photographs by Laurence Aberhart

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Shed. Ruru Road Memorial Cemetery, Christchurch. From the portfolio: View - 10 Photographs by Laurence Aberhart

Shed. Ruru Road Memorial Cemetery, Christchurch. From the portfolio: View - 10 Photographs by Laurence Aberhart

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Midway Beach, Gisborne, 13 June 1986

Midway Beach, Gisborne, 13 June 1986

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Nature morte (silence), Savage Club, Wanganui, 20 February 1986

Nature morte (silence), Savage Club, Wanganui, 20 February 1986

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Moreporks (Bird Skins Room #2), Taranaki St, Wellington, 3 October 1995

Moreporks (Bird Skins Room #2), Taranaki St, Wellington, 3 October 1995

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Te Waiherehere, Koroniti (sic), Whanganui River, 29 May 1986

Te Waiherehere, Koroniti (sic), Whanganui River, 29 May 1986

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Dargaville [Mt Wesley Cemetery], Northland, 17 April 2003

Dargaville [Mt Wesley Cemetery], Northland, 17 April 2003

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Amberley Memorial ("To Thine Own Self be True"), Amberley, October 1981

Amberley Memorial ("To Thine Own Self be True"), Amberley, October 1981

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Interior #14 'Danceland', Rotorua, 19 March 1993

Interior #14 'Danceland', Rotorua, 19 March 1993

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Files, Wanganui, 1986/87 - Portrait of Law

Files, Wanganui, 1986/87 - Portrait of Law

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Interior (Joseph and Jesus), Lower Waihou, Hokianga Harbour, Northland, 3 May 1982

Interior (Joseph and Jesus), Lower Waihou, Hokianga Harbour, Northland, 3 May 1982

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Interior (Mary), Lower Waihou, Hokianga Harbour, Northland, 3 May 1982

Interior (Mary), Lower Waihou, Hokianga Harbour, Northland, 3 May 1982

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Exterior, family church (Methodist), Whirinaki, Hokianga Harbour, Northland, 3 May 1982

Exterior, family church (Methodist), Whirinaki, Hokianga Harbour, Northland, 3 May 1982

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Mechanical yellow-eyed penguin

Mechanical yellow-eyed penguin

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Albatross

Albatross

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Orca skull, Taranaki St., Wellington, 4 October 1995

Orca skull, Taranaki St., Wellington, 4 October 1995

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Richard Pearse Memorial, Upper Waitohi, South Canterbury, 1999

Richard Pearse Memorial, Upper Waitohi, South Canterbury, 1999

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Figurehead

Figurehead

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Interior no. 2. "Eripitana", Te Whaiti, Urewera, 7 June 1982

Interior no. 2. "Eripitana", Te Whaiti, Urewera, 7 June 1982

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Interior no. 2. "Whitikaupeka", Moawhango, April 1982

Interior no. 2. "Whitikaupeka", Moawhango, April 1982

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Interior no 1. "Whitikaupeka" Moawhango, April 1982

Interior no 1. "Whitikaupeka" Moawhango, April 1982

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Untitled (Takamatua, Banks Peninsula, 1978)

Untitled (Takamatua, Banks Peninsula, 1978)

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Untitled (Pines Beach, Kaiapoi) 1977

Untitled (Pines Beach, Kaiapoi) 1977

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Hau Hau Flag #1, Wellington 1983

Hau Hau Flag #1, Wellington 1983

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Hau Hau Flag, Nelson 1983

Hau Hau Flag, Nelson 1983

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Coffin, Stafford, Westland

Coffin, Stafford, Westland

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Anglican Church, Pawarenga Peninsula, Whangape Harbour, Northland

Anglican Church, Pawarenga Peninsula, Whangape Harbour, Northland

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Mid-way Drive-in (abandoned), Europa, Mississippi, 16 September 1988

Mid-way Drive-in (abandoned), Europa, Mississippi, 16 September 1988

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Old bridge structure from new bridge: Clutha River: Alexandra 1980

Old bridge structure from new bridge: Clutha River: Alexandra 1980

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Greta and the view south from Bluff Hill, Stewart Island in the distance: Bluff 1981

Greta and the view south from Bluff Hill, Stewart Island in the distance: Bluff 1981

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: James' grave, Ruru Road: Christchurch 1980

James' grave, Ruru Road: Christchurch 1980

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Dunedin (warehouse facade)

Dunedin (warehouse facade)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Carved headboard, Victoria Valley, Northland, 15 May 1982

Carved headboard, Victoria Valley, Northland, 15 May 1982

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Andersons Bay

Andersons Bay

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa