Introduction Go to the Wild Child Project Album
This photographic project has come about over a four year period. It documents a very special family who have lived isolated lives for the last twenty years. They have chosen a lifestyle without many of the conveniences the rest of us have taken for granted. No state support; no electricity, telephones, television, refrigerators, freezers, radio, doctors, dentists, shop bought clothes, mobile phones, game consoles, supermarkets, taxes, internet, computers, contraceptives, schools, and so on.
I compare their lifestyle to pioneer settlers in New Zealand in the 1820's. It is as if they were cast adrift in a strange land with only a few possessions- and a desire to make their new life work.
There are however, some concessions to modernity. Battered cars replace horses and a chainsaw replaces a cross-cut saw. And, to prevent too much interference from authorities, a registered midwife has overseen the births of the ten children.
I was introduced to the family through the midwife and have been privileged to be allowed to learn from them and to photograph. Early in 2006 I was able to exhibit 6 of these photographs at Matakana Pictures in New Zealand. Since then there have been dramatic changes in the family circumstances. These photographs are testimony to their lives and are offered here with their permission so that friends and family overseas can engage with their unique lifestyle.
The mother of the children has begun to write about her experiences.
Some visitors have doubted the authenticity of these photographs. However, the family has attracted media interest here in New Zealand. In spite of our attempts to preserve privacy and annonymity, to my dismay the "Herald on Sunday" , tracked the family down from a number plate on one of these photographs. This was followed by a TV crew from "Campbell Live", a local current affairs programme. You can read my thoughts on this media coverage here. To their credit, TVNZ respected the families wish not to be pursued.
During this media scrum, I decided to take the images off the site. Following the anniversary of the father's death in April 2006, they are offered here again.
