People Watching

For two years, cartoonist Toby Morris made himself strike up conversations with strangers right across Aotearoa. Why? In these polarised times, he wanted to connect with people from all corners of New Zealand, driven by the hopeful idea that when we see people as they really are, we might actually like them.

The project took him to all sorts of places and their people: onto the field with the All Blacks, into a Southland milking shed, through a cat show, inside Neil Finn's studio, along to a seniors' tai chi group, and to a waka ama competition. Some famous, most not.

Even though Toby was nervous about bowling up and asking strangers if he could draw them, almost everyone said yes. They welcomed him, were generous with their time, and made light of what they were up to, trusting Toby to depict them as they were.

What he found was the best of us: laidback, funny, modest - Kiwi as. Because when you look for the good in people, chances are you'll find it.