Rachael Hale McKenna (photo) - Little Loves: New Zealand Children and Their Favourite Animals

foreword

Kia ora. I have a huge love for animals, and believe the connection children have with them is really special. For kids, their pet is often one of their best friends. They laugh and play with them, cry and confide in them. Their pets are well and truly part of the family. I think its super-important for kids to learn about responsibility and develop that friendship with animals.

I havent had a pet of my own for ages, being on the road a lot for my music. But my studio is based on a farm where I have about 70 animals, from chickens, roosters and cats to sheep and horses, which are all looked after by a friend of mine. I have also started building an outdoor pond which will have goldfish and frogs in it. They can pretty much look after themselves while Im gone, which is a great comfort.

My son Charlie has a dog, Missy, which lives at his mums place. Missy and Charlie really are best friends. It is through Charlie that I first came in contact with Starship Childrens Hospital. Not in the sense that he has been a patientwe are lucky in that respect. But one day when Charlie was three months old, I was jamming some random chords and noticed he got really excitedevery time I played them he went nuts. So off I went to the studio to piece the song together, and after a few days I had fleshed out the beginnings of what became Starship Lullaby.

A while later, after recording the demo and letting it sit, I had a dream that I had gifted the song to Starship and it went on to help generate funds for their cause. So the next morning I sent an email to the Starship Foundation outlining my idea, and explaining how I would like them to use this track in any way possible. That was when our partnership began.

I have absolutely loved every opportunity to support the kids at Starship. I know it must be very hard to be in hospital and away from your beloved pet. Growing up, I would spend hours and hours playing with my dogs, teaching them tricks and playing Fetch! I even built my dog Dax a really awesome dog kennel with louvre windows. It was big enough for me to fit in as wellwhich Id sometimes do for cuddles. Its these simple memories that kids who have to spend time in hospital miss out on.

One of the many things the Starship Foundation has funded for the hospital is the Cuddle Corner, a special place for long-term patients to have a cuddle with their pet or even one brought in through the pet-therapy programme, and I think this is so important.

They say when you work with children and animals together you never know what youre going to get. It sounds like trouble to photograph, but its also a lot of fun. And its great to see Rachaels vision come together through the lensshe really has captured that essence of an animal being a childs best friend.

nga mihi

tiki taane

Starship Foundation Supporter

introduction

The strongest and fondest memories I have of my own childhood often involve animals; as far back as I can remember we always had a menagerie of petscats, birds and rabbits. My older sisters cat Twinkle was the bearer of numerous litters of kittens; I remember being fascinated watching them being born. Most of the kittens went to new homes, but Tiger, Bubbles and Squeak joined our family troop. We lived in the heart of the city but managed to create our own little farm haven, and in my imagination I always dreamed that the reserve next door would eventually be our farm.

Finally, when my twin sister Rebecca and I were nine, our parents gave in to the years of pleading and a crazy and exceptionally naughty springer spaniel puppy arrived from my uncles farm. Archie became our constant companionhe went everywhere with usbut he never lost his naughty streak and was constantly getting himself, and us, into trouble! I remember walking to the local dairy to get milk for Mum, telling Archie to sit and stay outside (there werent any leads in those days). While I collected the milk from the back of the store, Archie went in and started devouring chocolate bars and lollies from the shelves as fast as he could. When I made my way to the counter to pay for the milk I discovered the commotion as the other customers stood horrified, watching Archie try to get as much into his mouth as possible I dropped the milk, grabbed the dog and hauled him out of the shop as quickly as possible with my face down to hide the bright-red flush of embarrassment! Needless to say, Archie was tied up during any future trips to the dairy.

My absolute passion, though, was horses. I learnt to ride during one of our frequent holidays staying with our cousins on their farm in Reporoa. We all took turns jumping bareback on my cousins pony Mika, racing her around the paddock holding onto her manewhoever stayed on the longest won. No halters, no bridles, no helmetsobviously there were no parents in sight!

My mother always told me I could have a horse if I paid for it myself, so after years of doing paper rounds and saving money I horrified her by coming home from school one day, aged thirteen, and telling her I had bought a horse! Eddie was my pride and joy, an ex-racehorse straight off the track, and as mad as a hatter. No one else would ride him, but I loved him. He gave me so many years of fun and adventure, until I outgrew him and sadly had to sell him to buy a new horse to continue my equestrian activities.

When I look back at my childhood, I cant imagine what it would have been like if animals hadnt been part of my life. Even now as an adult I struggle with not having animals; our family has been travelling so much lately that it has been impossible to have pets, but thankfully I work with them and I seem to be a favourite dog-sitter. My love and empathy for animals has been passed through my genes to my daughter Charlize. It has been wonderful to watch her love of animals develop, and to witness her gentle touch and the way she is naturally so caring towards all the animals she meets.

Returning to New Zealand from our adventures in France and New York, and being able to spend the first six months back home travelling and rediscovering this beautiful country with my family, creating the images for this book, has been one of the most incredible experiences of my career to date. The relationships I have had the pleasure of capturing have reinforced my belief in the importance of having animals in your life, especially for children. It provides invaluable lessons in how to care for and respect another living being, and the joy that comes from the friendships created, the partnerships developed and the adventures shared will form the basis of memories that will be treasured for a lifetime.

Charlize and Flash.

We have met so many gorgeous children and families during our few months on the road. The project has been a real team effort: Andy has created stunning behind-the-scenes video footage, capturing the gorgeous people and animals we have met; Charlize, when not off exploring and enjoying herself, has worked with me behind the camera helping to make the kids smile; and me, I have been doing what I love most, creating photographs of wonderful people and animals and visiting stunning new places, all with my family alongside me.