The Seekers

A DigitalNZ Story by Ashleigh

"There is nothing for it but to try and see through our missions to the end, as best we can, for until we do so, we will be permitted no calm.” ― Kazuo Ishiguro, When We Were Orphans Many of these images show the fortitude – the patience, perseverance, and concentration – of those who are searching for something or someone. Others show the exhaustion and sadness of people who haven't found what they’re looking for. A few of these images show relief.

Image: Pak'n Save; missing-trolleys amnesty; attendant Bob Goodall, director Michael Kelly.

Pak'n Save; missing-trolleys amnesty; attendant Bob Goodall, director Michael Kelly.

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Stealing wallet from breast inside pocket during a race. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiminiiiiiiimiiHiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiii i niiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii v (NZ Truth, 04 March 1926)

Stealing wallet from breast inside pocket during a race. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiminiiiiiiimiiHiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiMiii...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: A North Auckland coal prospector

A North Auckland coal prospector

Auckland Libraries

Image: Searching for enemy aircraft

Searching for enemy aircraft

Auckland Libraries

Image: Searching for the magnetic pole

Searching for the magnetic pole

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Duck shooting, featuring unidentified hunters searching in reeds on bank, location unknown

Duck shooting, featuring unidentified hunters searching in reeds on bank, location unknown

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Searching for a missing aircraft

Searching for a missing aircraft

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Searching the beach for wreckage from the Taupo

Searching the beach for wreckage from the Taupo

Auckland Libraries

Image: Hiroshima - Small child with baby on back searching for anything of usefulness

Hiroshima - Small child with baby on back searching for anything of usefulness

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: LOST��A PARROT. A City Club Snap. (Observer, 19 September 1908)

LOST��A PARROT. A City Club Snap. (Observer, 19 September 1908)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: The Philosopher Diogenes searching for an honest man

The Philosopher Diogenes searching for an honest man

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: People searching among the ruins of the village of Gessopalena, Italy

People searching among the ruins of the village of Gessopalena, Italy

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Digging for gum, Parengarenga Harbour

Digging for gum, Parengarenga Harbour

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Photo 3 by Hicks) "ANY CHA.NCE OF A JOB, MATE?" (Otago Witness, 23 December 1903)

Photo 3 by Hicks) "ANY CHA.NCE OF A JOB, MATE?" (Otago Witness, 23 December 1903)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: NZ intelligence staff searching prisoners in the Western Desert, World War II

NZ intelligence staff searching prisoners in the Western Desert, World War II

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Pied stilt, Pauatahanui Inlet, Porirua Harbour - Photograph taken by Ross Giblin

Pied stilt, Pauatahanui Inlet, Porirua Harbour - Photograph taken by Ross Giblin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Look-out men on S S Clansman searching for traces of the missing raft and boat

Look-out men on S S Clansman searching for traces of the missing raft and boat

Auckland Libraries

Image: Canadian soldiers searching for mines in a Dutch town. (Evening Post, 18 October 1944)

Canadian soldiers searching for mines in a Dutch town. (Evening Post, 18 October 1944)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: LOOKING FOR THE LOST SHEEP. (Otago Witness, 26 August 1908)

LOOKING FOR THE LOST SHEEP. (Otago Witness, 26 August 1908)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Soldier searching wandering Arab in Tunisia - Photograph taken by M D Elias

Soldier searching wandering Arab in Tunisia - Photograph taken by M D Elias

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Police searching the hills above Melrose Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand

Police searching the hills above Melrose Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: SEARCHING FOR CLUES Detective Studholme (without coat) and an assistant are shown engaged m the strenuous work of searching the thick scrub for clues. A few minutes after this photograph was taken the spanner used by the murderer was found. (NZ Truth, 23 June 1927)

SEARCHING FOR CLUES Detective Studholme (without coat) and an assistant are shown engaged m the strenuous work of searching the thick scrub for cl...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Hide and seek

Hide and seek

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Seeking a community playground, 1977

Seeking a community playground, 1977

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Rural dances: Middlemarch ball, 2005

Rural dances: Middlemarch ball, 2005

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Unidentified man with binoculars searches for whales from land, Bay of Islands, Far North District, Northland Region

Unidentified man with binoculars searches for whales from land, Bay of Islands, Far North District, Northland Region

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: (Sheep musterer with horse and lone sheep)

(Sheep musterer with horse and lone sheep)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Digging up rabbit holes

Digging up rabbit holes

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: THE PORT SEARCHLIGHT OF H. M. S. POWERFUL

THE PORT SEARCHLIGHT OF H. M. S. POWERFUL

Auckland Libraries

Newspaper

LOOKING FOR A WIFE. (Bruce Herald, 01 December 1903)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Walter Nash using a microscope at the International Paints factory, Lower Hutt

Walter Nash using a microscope at the International Paints factory, Lower Hutt

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The illuminations and electric searchlight display by warships in Auckland Harbour, on the night of June 11

The illuminations and electric searchlight display by warships in Auckland Harbour, on the night of June 11

Auckland Libraries

Image: Cyril Lee-Johnson, Northland

Cyril Lee-Johnson, Northland

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Lassie

Lassie

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Sport and General" Photo, With the growth of combative iveapons and the greater distance apart at which fighting forces noiv operate, the work of the official technician is more and more needed, especially to counter the greater use of camouflage. This picture was taken at a British.optical works engaged in military production, where an expert is seen testing a pair of the largest type of Admiralty binoculars* (Evening Post, 19 December 1939)

Sport and General" Photo, With the growth of combative iveapons and the greater distance apart at which fighting forces noiv operate, the work of t...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Inspector Tamani

Inspector Tamani

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mr. Brown.—l'm tired of having my wife go through my pockets while I'm asleep. (Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 May 1914)

Mr. Brown.—l'm tired of having my wife go through my pockets while I'm asleep. (Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 May 1914)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: New Zealand customs search

New Zealand customs search

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Search dog and handler

Search dog and handler

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The Truth Seeker

The Truth Seeker

Puke Ariki

Image: FIND THE DOG'S HEAD. (Evening Post, 25 June 1927)

FIND THE DOG'S HEAD. (Evening Post, 25 June 1927)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Woman hunter

Woman hunter

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A mining prospector, near Skippers, Otago

A mining prospector, near Skippers, Otago

Alexander Turnbull Library

Newspaper

TRYING TO FIND LONDON. (Thames Star, 17 April 1915)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Search party for lost tramper

Search party for lost tramper

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Pacific migrants

Pacific migrants

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Looking from the aisle towards the sanctuary of St Matthew's....

Looking from the aisle towards the sanctuary of St Matthew's....

Auckland Libraries

Image: In search of Oblivion

In search of Oblivion

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki