Pat Reesby: An Encounter with the Queen

The only female photographer/reporter at the Queen’s visit to Taupō Swamp in Plimmerton and the Royal New Zealand Police College

In 1986 I worked as reporter/photographer for Kapi-Mana News in Porirua. The Queen visited New Zealand and had asked to see an example of the work of the QEII National Trust.

All the Trust had to show her at the time was the Taupo swamp at Plimmerton, where a viewing platform was erected and a wooden shelter in case she wished to powder her nose during her 15-minute stop on the way to a more formal occasion at the Royal New Zealand Police College.

The crowd were lined up on the road verge beside the swamp, including a group of Cubs from the Plimmerton Scout Group.

I took photos of the Queen greeting people, accepting a posy from one of the cubs, and later at the Police College. But the closest I got to her was as she emerged from the shelter beside the swamp, accompanied by the Kapiti MP Margaret Shields.

Queen Elizabeth II at Taupō Swamp in 1986 with MP Margaret Shields. Photo: Pat Reesby
The Queen chats to people in the crowd at Taupō Swamp. Photo: Pat Reesby

Looking at the photo of the photographers I think I was the only female photographer (and doubled as reporter).

Pat as the only female photographer (in the centre at the back) at the Royal New Zealand Police College. Queen Elizabeth II conferred the title ‘Royal’ on the College during her visit for the Police Centenary celebrations in 1986. Photo: Supplied

I managed to find my scrapbooks of clippings from Kapi-Mana News, published in early March 1986.

Click on the links below to see more of my photos in the clippings:

Kapi-Mana News 1
Kapi-Mana News 2
Kapi-Mana News 3

Pat Reesby
15 September 2022

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