No Protocol For Me: The triumphs, trials and temptations of a photojournalist in Africa

Maurice Harvey is probably the most widely travelled photojournalist from New Zealand, having been to 160 countries and territories. His travels began in Africa in 1960 where for seven years he lived in Central and West Africa, then in later years, paid numerous visits covering 37 countries of the continent. The independence movement was sweeping Africa bringing with it not just freedom and liberty, but in far too many cases, injustice and hardship.

In 1979 he became the official photojournalist of the United Bible Societies, the world’s largest publishing organisation, a position he held for nearly 20 years.

His other photography has been used by many of the world’s leading publishers such as the BBC, the ten volume Grand Larousse encyclopedique, Macmillan, Reader’s Digest, BBC, C.U.P., O.U.P., Open University, Microsoft and many others. Plus local papers and periodicals of his own country and many others around the world. His published work earned him the coveted Licentiate of the Master Photographers Association (United Kingdom).

He has attempted to be frank, honest and accurate when explaining the situation for a photojournalist in this most unfortunate continent - albeit a fascinating and at times an exhilarating experience. A continent of wonderful people of great potential yet in many cases, anchored down by corruption. He now makes his home in Central Auckland, together with Lorraine, his wife of 59 years.