John Sefton - An eye for the dramatic

Former National Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon enjoys a glass of wine and a front-row seat at a fashion show in 1980

The Herald has this week farewelled picture editor John Sefton.

Sefton was with the company a total of 41 years and as a photographer, covered many notable events nationally and overseas, including the Springbok Tour of 1981, the Rainbow Warrior bombing in 1985, the Fijian Coup in 1987 (which landed him in a Fijian jail along with a reporter) and numerous Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

As picture editor, Sefton has been at the helm during many historic events, including Princess Diana's death, the attack on the Twin Towers and the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake.

Sefton's experience and expertise will be missed in all facets of the industry, but more importantly he will be missed as a colleague and a friend within our newsroom.

Here is a selection of his work as a photographer.

Anti-Springbok tour demonstrators (below) protest the arrival of the South African rugby team at Auckland Airport in 1981.

Emergency services attend the scene of the Rainbow Warrior sinking at Marsden Wharf in July 1985.

A glimpse of the lone pine atop One Tree Hill through morning mist in 1985.

a snail blazes a watery trail across the bonnet of a car.