Celebrating 150 years of the New Zealand Herald is this snapshot through the lenses of the Herald photographers recording the faces, the people, and the passion of our country.

The Mexican view; Michael Burgess talks with leading ESPN Journalist Diana Alvarado on why Mexico can't afford to lose, why the fans are one result from a riot and why Marco Rojas is such a hit.

The All Blacks have made the short trip to London from Paris, Steve Hansen reflected "It still hurts,'' he said of last year's 38-21 loss. "We don't like losing. It was a tough old day. Aaron Cruden talks of Carter's impending 100th test match and what the English team mean to the All Blacks.

In September 2013 Eddie Hobson spent 45 incredible days capturing New Zealand in timelapse photography and slow motion. Travelling both North and South islands, he covered over 8500kms. 'The beauty of New Zealand is breathtaking. The diversity, splendour and close proximity of the locations is astounding'. Courtesy Eddie Peter Hobson: https://vimeo.com/78982418 Check out tataride.com - facebook.com/timelapsetheworld

Raw courage, a bit of luck and some magic from Charlie Piutau saw the All Blacks cling on to victory this morning in Paris.

Herald Photojournalist Sarah Ivey traveled to the Hunterville Huntaway Festival which the feature event is 'The Shepherd's Shemozzle', a competition for man and dog, where the pair are tested over obstacles in and around the town. It also has the best mudslide in the country for the kids.

Returning to the All Blacks playing his 99th test is Dan Carter who admits to nerves returning to an unbeaten All Black team against France, Ma'a Nonu breaks his year long silence and intends to 'prove people wrong' on the paddock.

Meet Sarah and Paige. They've been best friends since they were 8 years old. For years, they've shared everything over Skype. But the crazy part is they've never met in person. Until now.

Steve Hansen has named the most experienced All Blacks team in history to play France in Paris on Sunday. In what is the first leg of a potentially momentous three-week European tour for his men, the squad, including skipper Richie McCaw, prop Tony Woodcock and hooker Keven Mealamu, whom have all played more than 100 tests, features 853 caps in the starting XV plus a further 112 caps on the bench for a total of 965.

Police Minister Anne Tolley has referred the Police handling of the Roast Busters to the Independent Police Conduct Authority after meeting with Police Commissioner Peter Marshall.

Paula Bennett gave a very funny speech in the House to lead off the Wednesday general debate, it's very quite theatrical in its description of Labour leader David Cunliffe as the Yeah Nah leader.

All Black captain Richie McCaw and returning number eight Kerian Read face up to the challenge of a French side playing at home. The perception that the French draw something extra out of themselves when they play the All Blacks isn't strictly true. What's happened is that two games, where they have done exactly that, have tainted the picture. It's not like any New Zealanders can easily forget what happened at the World Cup in 1999. Even less likely they will forget 2007.

Archive video from 2008 of Samoan Rugby hard man Peter "Fats" Fatialofa discusses the Pacific Islanders Rugby team - he is the forward coach and the games played, the spirit and make up of the team. courtesy YouTube/ThePacificIslanders

Sneak Peek from today's livestream from Peter Jackson of the latest trailer from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. courtesy Facebook/The Hobbit.

You've never seen hot air balloons like this before. A couple weeks ago, Albuquerque, New Mexico held its 42nd annual International Balloon Fiesta. It's a 9-day event where over 700 balloons see liftoff. It's the largest hot air balloon festival in the entire world. courtesy YouTube/ROADTRIPPERS.COM

Ron Burgundy has a message for all Australians on the day of the 2013 Melbourne Cup. courtesy ParamountPicturesAU

It would be natural to expect the French to be a tougher side to beat in Paris than they were in New Zealand. They rarely lose Six Nations games in Paris and even if they occasionally lack accuracy at home, they live off emotion and passion and deliver greater intensity.

Artist Dick Frizzell explains the creation of the New Zealand Herald’s very special 150th birthday wrap cover.

The All Blacks trounced Japan 54-6 in New Zealand's first official test in Japan. Winger Charles Piutau scored his first of two tries for New Zealand before two early penalty kicks by Ayumu Goromaru cut the visitor's lead to 7-6, but that was as close as Japan would get.

When Robyn Valentine was preparing to have her and Don’s second child, she refused to leave the lighthouse at Dog Island, out in Foveaux Strait. You’ve done the lambs and the calves, she told Don, so you can do me too. When a three-monthly ship visit to restock supplies on the remote island coincided with the due date of their child, she was flattered to be invited aboard for tea with the captain. Don, meanwhile, tossed her suitcase on a dinghy out to the ship and waved goodbye from shore as the ship pulled anchor and took her away to have their child on the mainland.

Francisca Griffin was in the middle of the Dunedin rock revolution. She formed band Look Blue Go Purple with four friends, fell in love and married with Martyn Bull of the Chills and partied through the eighties. She lost Bull, as did everyone, when he died of cancer. Now a naturopath, inspired by the treatment needed for his illness, we joined her for a rare gig at which she sang a song of Mr Leather Jacket, her lover and husband who died 30 years before.

Sam Forsyth drives two hours to practice from the sheep farm he manages and two hours back, picking up and dropping off up to a dozen team mates on the way. The team of Mackenzie is made up of shepherds and farm workers across the Mackenzie district, who travel far for their love of the game. If anything showed it, there was the game in the middle of winter which needed a snowplough to clear the field. The ground froze and players cut knees and elbows on sharpened ice as temperatures dropped below zero.

Jeremy Hawker is the garden manager for Christchurch’s Hagley Park. When the September 2010 earthquake happened, the conservatories housing some of the park’s most precious plants were closed for fear the glass panes would fall in on those visiting. He took us inside the conservatory where plants within have grown out of control, even cross-breeding in a way which has the experts baffled. For Hawker, it goes back to the reason he loved plants in the beginning – they are a way to travel to distant lands without ever leaving. In the conservatories, the plants are creating new lands.

Evan Birchfield loves tanks and always wanted one. When his son and wife smuggled a tank into Ross as a surprise for his birthday, it was an extraordinary exercise in skulduggery to keep it hidden. Brilliantly, Evan had no idea until the tank interrupted his birthday party, driving over cars and firing shots in a mock battle staged to celebrate his 50th.

Halfdan Hansen took an unlikely route for the son of an avante garde artist and hippy – he want off to work for petrochemical companies. He was around though to convince his father Jens to accept the commission to make a very special ring for a movie – the One Ring featured in the Lord of the Rings and now The Hobbit films. His dad made the rings and died before the LOTR films were screened, but his final commission has left a legacy which kept his business alive. Halfdan came back from the oil rigs to take over the jewellers, which relies on the One Ring for about 25 per cent of its business.

Holly Donald remembers how her father Rod’s political career intruded on almost every part of her life – even her 21st birthday. Like any politicians’ child, its hard to share a parent with the country. Tragically, Holly and her sisters never got the chance to reclaim their father after politics because he died too soon. A political scientist, she now works at the Green Party offices in Wellington – a job which keeps her close to her dad years after he went away.

Bernie Walsh was always the greatest storyteller in their Taranaki farming family, say his daughters Bernie and Anita. The stories are disappearing one by one as dementia takes its grip. His daughters tell of the anguish involved in putting their father into care, and the sorrow they have at watching the strong role model they love and adore lose grip on the life he filled completely.

Prime Minister John Key said his decision for Sir Doug Graham to retain his knighthood was a difficult one to make, but he believes the decision he has made is the right one.

Andy Harland was the third generation of hunter to use a rifle in the land around National Park – some of the most rugged and wild country remaining in the North Island. He put down the rifle for a long time after his son Hamish was killed in an incident he refuses to cause an accident. Harland talks about the struggle with grief which still plagues his every day and the lessons he says hunters need to remember.

Anna Harvey-Lorck was the provincial harvest queen of Waipukarau in 1989. Just 17, she became a small town’s ambassador to its sister town in Australia. Now, 24 years on, she remembers the look on her parents’ face when she was crowned, how she told organisers the contest needed to be less pageant and what she took from it in the long-term, particularly as mum to five girls.