Maketu lost one of its brightest spirits on January 28 with the passing of Andrew Edward ‘Andy’ Belcher, aged 82.
A celebrated photographer, adventurer, and storyteller, and friend to many, Andy’s lens captured not only the vibrant underwater world but also the thrill of adventure, the beauty of New Zealand’s landscapes, and the spirit of life lived to the fullest.
Born in England in 1943, Andy grew up in a highly artistic family. He emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 29, spending extensive time travelling throughout Australia as well as Papua New Guinea.
Returning to New Zealand in the late-1970s, he was captivated by the clarity and colour of its waters. But it was his journeys to Papua New Guinea that became a cornerstone of his future photography career.
“The water was unbelievable. The coral colours were fantastic and something about that clicked for me,” he once said of the moment that launched his underwater photography career in 1984.
From those early days, Andy’s photography knew no limits. A career spanning four decades, he captured everything from daring adventure sports, including skydiving and abseiling into Waitomo’s Lost World Cave, to intimate underwater encounters with marine life, and candid moments of New Zealand’s tourism and coastal communities.
His work earned him 84 international awards, including the British Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 1997, presented by Sir Richard Attenborough for his striking grouper photograph taken in Vanuatu.
Andy’s adventurous spirit was inseparable from his work. He survived a tsunami in Samoa in 2009, warning others and saving his cameras in the process. In Vanuatu, a playful dugong nearly pulled him underwater during a shoot. And in 2020, his photograph of a storm sweeping over Maketu resonated with locals, capturing the quiet intensity of life during Covid-19 lockdown.
His approach to photography was as bold as his exploits. Whether asked to photograph a new subject, explore a remote cave, or take on a challenging dive, Andy embraced it with curiosity, courage, and creativity. Friends recall his “irrepressible spirit” and “contagious enthusiasm,” qualities that inspired those around him both in and out of the water.
More than a decade ago, Andy provided a photography blog on SunLive, Through Andy’s Lens, where he shared some local scenes. He also regularly sent in images for The Weekend Sun’s news pages – including many photographs capturing Maketu and that end of the Western Bay of Plenty district.
Notably, he supplied images of ‘Moko the dolphin’ a male bottlenose which associated with humans along the East Coast from 2007-2010 and was found dead on the shore of Matakana Island July 7, 2010.
The Weekend Sun editor Merle Cave said it was very sad to hearing of Andy’s death and her thoughts were with his family and friends at this time.
“Andy was a well-respected photographer in the Bay of Plenty, and across the world, who had immense skill in capturing people and locations with care and respect. His body of work is legendary.”
Cave said Andy was a great advocate for Maketu and the Bay of Plenty.
“Andy kindly supplied many photographs of anything and everything to the newspaper over the years. He was an incredible contributor who brought many of our news stories and features to life with his talented photography.”
Internationally, his underwater images, adventure shots, and environmental photographs were exhibited and celebrated, bringing attention to marine conservation and the richness of New Zealand’s natural world.
In 2024, he won the LegaSea NZ ‘Our FishCare Summer Photo Competition,’ taking top honours for his underwater scorpionfish composition and claiming prizes in landscape and coastal categories.
Andy’s friends, family, and colleagues remember him as a man who lived life fully. Dive buddy Adrienne Hartley recalled, “I will never forget you, your zest for life and passion for living”.
Longtime mate Barry Dick spoke of “50 years of friendship and many, many dives together,” while photographer Pete Mesley reflected on Andy’s lasting impact: “Every time I ‘kiss any image with light’ I think of him”.
Late in life, Andy was well-known locally for his drone photography and scenic prints from throughout the Bay of Plenty.
Beyond the accolades and adventure, Andy was a devoted partner to Annie, a loving father to Ben and Ocean, whom he shared with their mother Angie, and a cherished grandfather to seven grandchildren. His life was a blend of courage, artistry, generosity, and humour – a combination that has left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him.
Andy Belcher’s photographs will continue to speak for him, preserving his vision of a world full of wonder, challenge, and beauty. He captured life not just with a camera, but with a philosophy: embrace opportunity, explore widely, and live boldly.
In the words of Andy himself, “An opportunity can open something else, and you never know what can come from it. Always say ‘yes’.”
It’s a philosophy he lived every day.
Andy’s prints and images are still available to purchase. Visit Andy’s website at: https://www.andybelcher.com/ or email his daughter at: content@oceanpatrice.com.