From: Jennifer Parker <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2025 9:05:15 AM
To: Mitch Carroll <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Mayoral portrait
Kia ora Mitch
Yep talk to the internal photo team – they have the skills for this and if there was any
outsourcing that would be via them and the art peeps
Ngß mihi
Jennifer
Jennifer Parker
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Kaiwhakahaere Mana Urungi me ngƗ PƗrongo & Ɩpiha Pǀtitanga Tuarua | Manager of Governance
and Information & Deputy Electoral Officer | Strategy & Finance | Wellington City Council
7(2)(a)
E [email address] | W Wellington.govt.nz |
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its
contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
From: Mitch Carroll <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, 27 February 2025 9:02 am
To: Jennifer Parker <[email address]>
Subject: Mayoral portrait
Kia ora Jen
I am starting to look into the mayoral portrait for Tory. I just wanted to check I was on the
right track with outsourcing the photo, or do we have to use our WCC photography team.
I know we discussed the protocol around this, but it was quite some time ago, so just
checking in to make sure we go about it the right way .
NgĈ mihi
Mitch (Michelle) Carroll (she/her)
Functions & Events Coordinator, Office of the Mayor | Wellington City Council
Kairuruku Taiopenga, Te Tari Koromatua | Kaunihera o Pǀneke
7(2)(a)
E [email address] | W Wellington.govt.nz
|
From:
Nadine Walker
To:
Jennifer Parker; Baz Kaufman
Subject:
FW: Mayoral Portrait
Date:
Wednesday, 24 September 2025 9:53:00 am
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
image004.png
image006.png
FW Mayoral portrait.msg
Hi Korua
Please see below. Note the Nadine in the thread is not me but the WCC photographer.
It seems Tory and Mitch understood from the below thread that a painted portrait was
allowed and then when Mitch checked, she was advised on how to go down that route.
In particular, recent Mayors’ decisions to go with a photo seemed like a preference rather
than a policy direction change, as indicated in the email from Laura Woodward on
Wednesday, 23 July at 4:24 PM.
I’ve also attached where Mitch works with Laura to liaise with the portraiture artist, so I can
see why Mitch thought everything above board!
Apologies if there’s been a diversion in policy unwittingly.
Baz, as discussed, the people attending the unveiling is about 30 people, consisting of the
Mayor’s office and as I understand (but will check), Tory’s friends and family. Will get that list
to you shortly.
Happy to discuss further.
Nadine
From: Mitch Carrol
<[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 24 September 2025 9:42 am
To: Nadine Walke
r <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Mayoral Portrait
FYI
From: Laura Woodward
<[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 12:26 PM
To: Mitch Carrol
<Mitch.Carrol @wcc.govt.nz>; Nadine McGrath
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Mayoral Portrait
Hi Mitch
s7(2)(a)
s7(2)(a)
To align with previous Mayoral portraits the Mayor should be wearing the chains and can
choose to wear the robes or not. I suggest reviewing previous Mayoral portrait
s here Recent
Mayors (from Kerry Prendergast onwards) have elected to have their portraits outside with a
background showing an accomplishment or something meaningful from their term.
Scale-wise they tend to be around the size of the Te Puni portrait in your space (but with a
narrower, more contemporary frame).
If you would like I can be involved in assessing/editing a draft brief for an artist once you think
you may have found someone suitable. For the significance of the role you would want an
experienced artist in portraiture. To give you an idea, there may be 4 sessions of sitting for
the artist. Depending on the artist the cost of the commission could vary significantly but I
would assume, it could be around $10-20,000. If this is an issue I can help out by using the
City Art Col ection operational budget to pay for the framing.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Warm regards
Laura
From: Mitch Carrol
<[email address]>
Sent: 05 August 2025 11:19 AM
To: Nadine McGrath
<[email address]>; Laura Woodward
<[email address]> Subject: RE: Mayoral Portrait
Kia ora korua
I have just brought this up again with Tory. We had been under the impression she was
having to have a photograph, however when I updated her regarding your email Laura she
was very keen to get a painting done. My team are now looking into who might be able to do
this.
@Laura Woodward, just checking if there are any guidelines around this, ie size, what the
mayor should be wearing etc?
Ngā mihi
Mitch (Michelle) Carrol (she/her)
Functions & Events Coordinator, Office of the Mayor | Wel ington City Council
Kairuruku Taiopenga, Te Tari Koromatua | Kaunihera o Pōneke
7(2)(a)
E mitch.car [email address] | W
Wel ington.govt.nz |
From: Nadine McGrath
<[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2025 7:55 AM
To: Laura Woodward
<[email address]>; Mitch Carrol
<Mitch.Carrol @wcc.govt.nz> Subject: Re: Mayoral Portrait
Kia ora Mitch and Laura,
That is realy helpful thanks Laura
! @Laura Woodward do you know how much budget there
is available for this?
@Mitch Carrol, seeing as there is budget, if Tory wanted her portrait done by Celeste (who I
hear took lovely photos of her while she worked here), that would be an option. Whatever
Tory would feel most comfortable with.
@Laura Woodward, can you clarify whether Tory needs to be in ful robes and chains for the
portrait? And if there are any locations we should avoid?
Nga mihi,
Nadine McGrath (she/her)
Kaiwhakahaere Ihirangi Ataata | Visual Content Team Lead
Communications and Creative | Wellington City Council
7(2)(a)
E nadine.mcgrat
[email address] |
Wellington.govt.nz
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee
only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not
disclose, copy or make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and
contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
From: Laura Woodward
<[email address]>
Date: Wednesday, 23 July 2025 at 4:24 PM
To: Nadine McGrath
<[email address]>, Mitch Carrol
<Mitch.Carrol @wcc.govt.nz>
Subject: RE: Mayoral Portrait
Hi Nadine and Mitch
Since we last engaged on this I’ve received more information about our buildings/spaces for
display. I’m happy to hand this over to you Nadine to continue your good work.
Mitch, I don’t know what your teams budget expectations are but happy to chat through what
has been done in the past. As it is the Mayors portrait they have often been given options on
whether they want a photo or painting and who the artist is. The last several Mayors have
gone for our professional in-house photography team. That has been for speed, cost, or
simply preference of the Mayor at the time.
It's worth noting, that since we have left the Town Hall there is no longer a ‘Hall of Mayors’ so
other than our online gal ery for the City Art Col ection, the image may not be displayed
immediately. The image does however get automatical y added to the official WCC City Art
Collection.
If there are any questions I can answer please do get in touch.
Ngā mihi
Laura
From: Laura Woodward
<[email address]>
Sent: 21 July 2025 10:20 AM
To: Nadine McGrath
<[email address]>; Mitch Carrol
<Mitch.Carrol @wcc.govt.nz>;
Eve Armstrong
<[email address]>; Katie Taylor-Duke
<Katie.Taylor-
[email address]> Subject: RE: Mayoral Portrait
Kia ora all
My many apologies for this tardy response. I am currently seeking advice and will get back to
you by the end of Wednesday.
Ngā mihi
Laura
Laura Woodward
Art Collection Manager
Wel ington City Council
7(2)(a)
[email address]
Wellington.govt.nz
From: Nadine McGrath
<[email address]>
Sent: 18 July 2025 10:30 AM
To: Mitch Carrol
<Mitch.Carrol @wcc.govt.nz>; Laura Woodward
<[email address]>; Eve Armstrong
<[email address]>; Katie Taylor-
Duke
<[email address]> Subject: Re: Mayoral Portrait
Importance: High
Kia ora Mitch,
I’m so sorry you are having to follow up so often. I’m afraid I’m not hearing anything back
from the arts team about this.
For context, after the last Mayoral Portait took place we were advised the arts team were the
client for the mayors portraits and we needed to wait on direction from them before
proceeding with any further Mayoral Portraits.
@Laura Woodward is this still the case? Or are you happy for us to proceed?
Nga mihi,
Nadine McGrath (she/her)
Kaiwhakahaere Ihirangi Ataata | Visual Content Team Lead
Communications and Creative | Wellington City Council
7(2)(a)
|
E nadine.mcgrat
[email address] |
Wellington.govt.nz
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee
only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not
disclose, copy or make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and
contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
From: Mitch Carrol
<[email address]>
Date: Friday, 18 July 2025 at 10:25 AM
To: Nadine McGrath
<[email address]>, Laura Woodward
<[email address]>, Eve Armstrong
<[email address]>, Katie Taylor-Duke
<[email address]> Subject: RE: Mayoral Portrait
Kia ora koutou
Just following up about the mayoral portrait. It would be realy good to get this booked in as
time is going to go pretty quickly between now and election time, and Tory’s calendar gets
pretty booked up in advance.
Are we able to find out the details for the portrait so we can book the photoshoot in.
Ngā mihi
Mitch (Michelle) Carrol (she/her)
Functions & Events Coordinator, Office of the Mayor | Wel ington City Council
Kairuruku Taiopenga, Te Tari Koromatua | Kaunihera o Pōneke
7(2)(a)
E mitch.car [email address] | W
Wel ington.govt.nz |
From: Nadine McGrath
<[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 9 June 2025 11:48 am
To: Mitch Carrol
<Mitch.Carrol @wcc.govt.nz>; Laura Woodward
<[email address]>; Eve Armstrong
<[email address]>; Katie Taylor-
Duke
<[email address]> Subject: Re: Mayoral Portrait
Kia ora team,
My understanding is that the Arts team are the ones that spearhead the portraits of Mayors.
They also determine the brief, style, and photographer.
@Eve Armstrong is this still the case?
Nga mihi,
Nadine McGrath (she/her)
Kaiwhakahaere Ihirangi Ataata | Visual Content Team Lead
Communications and Creative | Wellington City Council
7(2)(a)
|
E nadine.mcgrat
[email address] |
Wellington.govt.nz
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee
only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not
disclose, copy or make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and
contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
From: Mitch Carrol
<[email address]>
Date: Monday, 9 June 2025 at 11:32 AM
To: Laura Woodward
<[email address]> Cc: Nadine McGrath
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Mayoral Portrait
Kia ora Laura
Just following up on this. If you can let me know what needs to be done at my end, then I can
set up a time with Nadine to take the photo.
Ngā mihi, Mitch
From: Mitch Carrol
<[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 20 May 2025 1:12 pm
To: Laura Woodward
<[email address]>
Subject: RE: Mayoral Portrait
Kia ora Laura
Thank you for your email. I am looking after this for the mayor’s office. I have been in touch
with Nadine from the WCC photography team and she is happy to do the portrait, and our
office are happy with that and are aware we cover the cost.
Nadine did mention to get in contact with the arts team, so that has been on my to do list,
but I hadn’t quite got to it, so that was great timing!
If you can let me know what we need to do from here that would be terrific.
Ngā mihi
Mitch (Michelle) Carrol (she/her)
Functions & Events Coordinator, Office of the Mayor | Wel ington City Council
Kairuruku Taiopenga, Te Tari Koromatua | Kaunihera o Pōneke
7(2)(a)
E mitch.car [email address] | W
Wel ington.govt.nz |
From: Kate Hamilton
<[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 20 May 2025 10:02 am
To: Laura Woodward
<[email address]>
Cc: Mitch Carrol
<Mitch.Carrol @wcc.govt.nz>
Subject: RE: Mayoral Portrait
Kia ora Laura,
Thank you for reaching out – Mitch from our office will be working on this so have cc’d her in
so you two can discuss.
Ngā mihi,
Kate Hamilton
Ofice Manager | Ofice of the Mayor | Welington City Council
Kaiwhakahaere Tari | Kaunihera o Pōneke
7(2)(a)
|E
[email address] | W
Wellington.govt.nz |
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its
contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
From: Laura Woodward
<[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 20 May 2025 8:29 am
To: Kate Hamilton
<[email address]>
Subject: Mayoral Portrait
Kia ora Kate
With confirmation that Tory will not be running for Mayor in the upcoming election, we need
to arrange for her official Mayoral portrait. Would you be the best point of contact to help
coordinate this?
As it’s something that only happens once a Mayor is leaving office, you may not be aware
that this occurs and that the budget for it comes from the Mayors Office. The last handful of
Mayors have chosen to work with our in-house photographer. It is cost-effective, but less
impressive. Previous to that, I would connect the staff person from the Mayors Office with
the director of the New Zealand Portrait Gal ery to advise on capable and appropriate local
artists who produce work in a style of the Mayors choosing. I’m happy to explore and advise
on alternative options if needed. In the past al Mayoral portraits dating back to the start of
Wel ington were on display in the Town Hal . This will no longer be the case. However it is still
an impressive feat to have such a complete set of portraits. From the ful set of Mayors, there
have been three female Mayors, and no one who whakapapa’s Māori. Adding Tory will be an
important signpost for the future of Wel ington.
Examples of previous Mayoral portraits can be viewed at our
online galery And apologies,
some of the images need to be replaced. They are being drawn from the wrong folder in our
database.
I appreciate your guidance and look forward to your response.
Nga mihi
Laura
Laura Woodward
Art Collection Manager
Wellington City Council
7(2)(a)
[email address]
Instagram
wgtn_city_art_collection
City Art Collection Online Gallery
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee
only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy
or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your
assistance is appreciated.
Outlook
FW: Mayoral portrait
From Laura Woodward <[email address]>
Date Tue 12/08/2025 3:40 PM
To
Mitch Carroll <[email address]>
Hey Mitch
Great that we have a painter chosen. Have you let Nadine know?
Cheers
Laura
From: Mitch Carroll <[email address]>
Sent: 12 August 2025 2:14 PM
To: Laura Woodward <[email address]>; Clark Roworth <[email address]>
Subject: Mayoral portrait
Kia ora Laura
Mayor Whanau would like Clark Roworth (cc’d) to do her mayoral portrait. Clark is available to start this very soon, so I was wondering if you could
please send him the brief for the specific information regarding the portrait, including size etc.
Ngā mihi
Mitch (Michelle) Carroll (she/her)
Functions & Events Coordinator, Office of the Mayor | Wellington City Council
Kairuruku Taiopenga, Te Tari Koromatua | Kaunihera o Pōneke
7(2)(a)
E
[email address] |
W Wellington.govt.nz
|
Outlook
FW: Portrait painting options
From: Nadine Walker <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 2:06 PM
To: Mitch Carroll <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Portrait painting options
Hi Mitch
Can you please contact s7(2)(a)
(I know she doesn’t accept commissions but may be interested in painting the Mayor).
If she is not available, can you please contact Clark Roworth:
https://www.clarkr.art/aboutcontact
Thanks
Nadine
From: Nadine Walker
Sent: Tuesday, 5 August 2025 1:49 pm
To: Mayor Tor
y Whanau <[email address]>
Cc: Mitch Carr
oll <[email address]>
Subject: Portrait painting options
Hey Tory
To find you a realism portraiture artist (I am assuming you don’t want abstract or otherwise?) that is also current, I looked at:
The latest recipients for the latest Adam Portraiture A
wards (NZs biggest gong RE this art), The Adam Portraiture Award 2024 — New Zealand Portrait Gallery
The finalists for the Kingi Tuheitiaa Portraiture Awards 2025:
https://www.nzportraitgallery.org.nz/kiingituheitiaaward/finalists-2025
Sophia Minson who did a beautiful portrait of Tame Iti:
https://www.newzealandartwork.com/shop/product/221970/tame-iti/?variantId=518410
John Ward Knox’s Archibald prize 2020 of Jacinda Ardern:
https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2020/30226/
Action for you: Having your portrait painted is very personal so you need to pick an artist whose art you really like and think best reflects you!
I would go through these links and pick out three artists you’d like us to approach. I’ve dropped some paintings/artists below that really stood out to me but again, it is personal to you!
Once you have picked three, we will check their availability, cost, then come back to you early next week to make a decision.
N
7(2)(a)
7(2)(a)
7(2)(a)
7(2)(a)
7(2)(a)
Ngā mihi
Nadine Walker (She/Her)
Kaihautū| Chief of Staff
7(2)(a)
E [email address]
Document Outline
