Shelley Rikys, a talented photographer, is among the artists featured at Raglan’s iHub. Her work captures the distinctive landscapes of Raglan, reflecting her connection and enjoyment of local settings. Beyond her photography, Shelley is also known for her commitment to community service.
Raised on a farm north of Raglan, she has called Raglan her home for approximately 17 years. Shelley initially worked in rural banking for 36 years, commuting to Hamilton. Her transition into community service began over a decade ago when she began volunteering with Hato Hone St John. She started covering night shifts to ensure that no one worked alone and eventually became a permanent member of the team – after qualifying as an immediate first responder and later an emergency medical technician. Four years ago, Shelley made the decision to transition to ambulance work full-time.
In addition to her front-line work as an ambulance officer, Shelley contributes to the strategic direction of local health services as Secretary for the Raglan Hato Hone St John Area Committee. The committee oversees the maintenance of the local station and coordinates health initiatives and fundraising efforts. Shelley is also an instructor for the “Three Steps for Life” programme, an initiative aimed at empowering community members with life-saving skills such as CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) usage. These trained individuals can become initial first responders in an emergency, equipped with the skills that could save somebody’s life in those critical first moments.
Alongside her work in the community, Shelley has nurtured her enthusiasm for photography. Her interest began during a personal trip around the lower North Island, where she began documenting her experiences through images. What began as a comprehensive Facebook catalogue of her pit-stops, shared with family and friends, soon became a wider spread passion for photography that she could share with her local community and visitors to the area. Throughout the COVID-19 lockdowns, Shelley found inspiration in her local environment. She dedicated time each day to walking along Raglan’s coastline at low tide, capturing the natural beauty of the landscape, and sharing her photographs to uplift community morale.
Encouraged by friends and fellow landscape enthusiasts, Shelley began producing calendars featuring her photography. These calendars, now an annual tradition, have become appreciated keepsakes for friends, locals, and visitors to Raglan. Her portfolio has since expanded; you will now find her signature morning light and coastal scenes on postcards, greeting cards, wall hangings, and even fridge magnets.
Despite her growing following, Shelley prefers to keep photography as a joyful hobby, free from commercial pressures. She values creative freedom and finds her true love of photography is in capturing spontaneous and meaningful moments.
“People have asked why I don’t go professional,” Shelley explains. “But I don’t want the pressure of people telling me how to take a photo. The joy would go out of it, and I’ve got to have the joy, or there’s no pleasure in it.” This dedication ensures that her work remains both genuine and impactful.
Shelley’s photographic collections are available at the Raglan iHub, where you will find her latest depictions of the Raglan landscape on a variety of keepsake items. They make excellent gifts or mementos of visits to Raglan and the surrounding coastline.
More information about Shelley’s work and other iHub activities can be found at www.raglanihub.nz or through their Facebook page @raglanihub. The iHub 0operates seven days a week from 10:00am to 3:00pm
Support local art and take home a piece of Raglan’s beauty, captured through Shelley’s thoughtful lens.
