Attending Victoria University in 1969-70, John then worked as a Craccum (Auckland University Students' Association Magazine) photographer in 1971-72. He became focused on the various protest movements taking place at the time, the activities of the anti-Vietnam War and anti-South African sports tour movements and the first Waitangi protests before moving to record the historic Land March and Bastion Point occupation. His work reveals the connections between peace and equality and that peace will not come without freedom for all members of society. He considers himself a self described sympathetic observer of these manifestations of civilian dissent, saying “I tend to support the causes that motivate such protests, rallies or meetings”.

John Miller’s photos documenting social and political dissent and cultural events, for more than five decades, have featured in exhibitions and publications, including the books By Batons and Barbed Wire, on the 1981 Springbok Tour; Negligent Neighbour, about East Timor, and Hikoi - Forty Years of Māori Protest.

Image credit: Chris Corson-Scott