Press

Press, interviews and features on New Zealand photographer Rachel Mataira. Rachel is a fine art landscape and documentary photographer based in Auckland and Waiheke Island, New Zealand Geographic's Young Photographer of the Year 2019, and has had work published by National Geographic. For interviews, image requests or media enquiries, see the media enquiries section at the end of this page.

Awards and recognition

• New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2019: winner, Young Photographer of the Year, for an aerial photograph made from a 34-foot sailboat off the North Island coast (also reported by Stuff and listed by PhotoForum New Zealand).
• National Geographic: editor's pick, Your Best Photos of the Week, March 2019.
• New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021: finalist.
• New Zealand Geographic, 2022: named among New Zealand's top 30 documentary photographers.
• Neat Places: named among Aotearoa New Zealand's top emerging artists.

Timeline

2018

Launched her fine art photography print business, with a commitment to sustainable printing. First series of prints sold through curated online platforms and select design spaces.

2019

Named New Zealand Geographic Young Photographer of the Year. Work published by National Geographic.

2020

Debut solo exhibition: a documentary record of the social and environmental shifts of 2020, her largest show to date.

2021

Finalist, New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year. Photo essay published in Design Anthology. Work begins reaching international collectors and curators.

2022

Named among New Zealand's top 30 documentary photographers. Artist residency at Ngāruawāhia Marae, documenting daily life and cultural narratives; the resulting body of work shown in a local exhibition.

2023

Co-founded La Galerie, Ponsonby, Auckland, with a ceramicist and a furniture maker: a space bringing together fine art photography, ceramics and bespoke furniture.

2024

Founded Mataira Gallery on Waiheke Island, a dedicated space for her work and a platform for local artists through exhibitions, collaborations and events.

2025

Began Master's research into provenance and stewardship within the art ecosystem. In Focus exhibition with the Waiheke Health Trust, Mataira Gallery.

Press and features

• NZ Herald · May 2025

  My Secret Auckland: Photographer Rachel Mataira shares her favourite spots in the city

  A Q&A on Rachel's favourite places on Waiheke Island and around Auckland, published as her exhibition In Focus: The Unseen Journey of Compassion, Commitment and Care opened at the Mataira Gallery, Waiheke Island.

• NZ Herald · May 2025

  What to do in Auckland this Mother's Day weekend

  In Focus, Rachel's exhibition documenting patients and staff of the Waiheke Health Trust, recommended in the Herald's weekend guide and again in its Travel Alerts column. Mataira Gallery, Waiheke Island, 8 May to 1 June 2025.

• Fashion Quarterly · March 2024

  Meet our Friday Muse, award-winning landscape photographer Rachel Mataira

  Interview by Amberley Colby on Rachel's move from international tax consulting into photography, her creative philosophy, and photography as a way of paying attention to the land.

• Broadsheet · December 2022 · Video

  Seeing Beyond the Everyday With Photographer Rachel Mataira

  A short film on Rachel's fascination with light, shadow, scale and seasonal change, and the quiet beauty of the everyday landscape.

• Homestyle · January 2022

  Rachel Mataira's photographs offer an alternative perspective on reality

  Profile by Philippa Prentice on Rachel's landscape and documentary work, including projects exploring Māori heritage and environmental change.

• Fashion Quarterly · May 2021

  Wanderlust with Rachel Mataira

  On how travel and landscape photography shape Rachel's work, and turning her attention to exploring New Zealand.

• Design Anthology · May 2021

  Wanderlust: photo essay, Design Anthology Australia Edition, Issue 4

  A photo essay of Rachel's painterly aerial photographs of New Zealand, revealing the diversity of the country's landscape. Print and digital edition.

• Index · January 2021

  2020 in Review: Rachel Mataira

  Index catches up with 2019's New Zealand Young Photographer of the Year as she prepares for her first solo show, a collection of documentary photographs captured throughout 2020.

• Re: News (TVNZ) · December 2020

  Reflect on 2020 with these haunting and beautiful photos

  A photo essay of Rachel's documentary work from 2020, published by Re: News.

  Original article no longer online.

• TVNZ Breakfast · November 2020 · Television

  2020 in photos: Rachel Mataira

  Live interview on Breakfast about the moments Rachel captured through 2020 and her first solo exhibition, 2020 in review, opening that December.

• Waiheke Gulf News · November 2020

  Photographer catches snap of Waiheke during lockdown

  On the exhibition of work Rachel made during her lockdown stay on Waiheke Island.

• Good Magazine · October 2020

  2020 in review: a solo exhibition by Rachel Mataira

  Coverage of Rachel's debut solo exhibition, moving from social documentary made through the year to New Zealand landscapes that invite reflection and gratitude.

• Good Magazine · 2020 (print)

  Super Squad: own your superpowers

  Rachel featured in Good magazine's print cover story on New Zealand women and their work.

• Neat Places · 2020

  Aotearoa's Top Emerging Artists

  Rachel named among New Zealand's top emerging artists for her clean, considered take on landscape and documentary photography.

• Miss FQ · March 2020

  How international tax accountant and photographer Rachel Mataira uses her creative outlet for self-empowerment

  On balancing two careers, and finding fulfilment through creative work.

• New Zealand Geographic · October 2019

  Photographer of the Year 2019: Young Photographer of the Year

  Rachel's winning image, made by flying a drone from a moving 34-foot sailboat while sailing around the North Island.

• Stuff · October 2019

  Wellington photographer takes out New Zealand Geographic photographer of the year award

  Stuff's report on the 2019 New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year winners, with Rachel Mataira winning the Young Photographer of the Year award for a sympathetic visual style across themes as diverse as social commentary and landscapes.

• National Geographic · March 2019

  Your Best Photos of the Week, March 22, 2019

  A documentary photograph by Rachel selected as an editor's pick and featured in National Geographic's Your Shot community showcase.

• Newshub · March 2019

  'Harmonious' change to iconic Auckland mural made permanent

  Rachel's photograph of the updated mural published with the story.

• Counter Journal · 2019 (print)

  On the Counter

  Rachel's photographic print featured in Counter Journal's curated selection of New Zealand-made objects.

Media enquiries