November last year, I got to shoot an event that—in a sense—is the biggest gig I've had. I've shot events for TV celebrities and sport stars before, but this one was even a bit more exciting. Briscoes, one of New Zealand's biggest retail stores, was celebrating their 150th birthday with a bang. It was not a mere dinner party for the staff, but also a fundraiser for Cure Kids to whom they have raised several millions of dollars in just the last few years. They auctioned out items such as a Manchester United shirt (signed by the whole team), beds and kitchen appliances, holidays to five-star hotels... And with a very skilled auctioneer on stage to complete the auctions, it was a really thrilling part of the evening!
But the cherry on top was that the Prime Minister was there to speak.* He was talking about the company and about politics—and boy, was his speech appreciated. People were seriously crying with laughter. I know it was caught on tape by a Californian dude I got to chat with later that night, and still hope I can find it one day.
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*I don't know much about John Key's political views, so I can't welcome nor dismiss them. But as a small town girl, I'm allowing myself to become starstruck anyway.