Joseph Batchelor
Also known asPatrick Joseph Batchelor
BiographyPatrick Joseph Batchelor was born on the 4th of October in 1896 in the Nelson region. His parents were Thomas Francis Batchelor and Jane Batchelor.
In 1922, Patrick James Batchelor married Elizabeth Maude Reach. Their son Roy’s birth was registered in 1923. They had two other children; Joan registered in 1925 and Trevor.
By March 1924, he had opened a business in Cameron Street, Whangarei named The Camera House. He processed film and sold cameras. In 1926, he began to also sell radio sets and their parts.
J Batchelor, as he was known, was also a professional photographer who captured everyday life, landscapes, and cultural scenes. He produced a significant Māori group portrait which is now held in the Alexander Turnbull Library. The print is inscribed: “Te Tauhou April 1932”. This is a black and white outdoor group photograph taken in April 1932 just weeks before the central figure’s death. It shows a very elderly Māori woman. The National Library identifies her as posssibly Te Tauhou Aoripi Pirihi of Takahiwai 1820–25 April 1932 based on the inscription, her apparent extreme age, and local knowledge. She is reclining on a mat, supported by another woman, and covered in traditional cloaks. Included in the portrait are a girl and a young man holding a framed portrait of a young woman. The setting is outdoors beside a tree in front of a small house. The photograph captures a living link to early colonial and pre-colonial Māori life, taken in situ rather than in a formal studio.
Over the years J Batchelor published books or contributed his photographs to books published by others. These included Views of Rotorua published in 1930, Beautiful Views of North Auckland, New Zealand (no date), Scenic Gems of the Bay of Islands, New Zealand (1935). In about 1940 he published Rotorua, Wonderland of New Zealand, in 1955 Geyser Valley Wairakei, New Zealand and The Story of the Great Eruption of Mt. Tarawera, 1886 and in 1956 Waimangu-Te Wairoa Round trip, Rotorua New Zealand. He also produced photographs for postcards.
J Batchelor was a long-standing member of the Whangarei Hockey Association and a member of their management committee. He was a referee of the game for decades.
He became a member of the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce in 1928.
By 1929, he owned a seaside bach at Waipu Cove which he let out furnished for holidayers.
In 1930, the Northern Advocate featured an article about his work entitled “A Day in a Dark Room.” In this article J Batchelor was described as “A specialist in the developing, printing and enlarging of amateur film.” The process of developing film into photographs took 7 to 8 hours. J Batchelor was “The only photographer specialising in amateur finishing in North Auckland.” He used up to date processes and technology and his equipment was capable of producing 1500 photographs in a day.
In July 1930 the family moved to Napier and opened photography businesses in Napier and Hastings. His shop in Cameron Street in Whangarei was managed by a member of his staff, Mrs McKinnon. He witnessed the Napier earthquake on the third of February 1931 and moved back to Whangarei later that month.
In 1931 and 1935, the family lived at 24 Powhiri Avenue in Kensington and by 1938 they were living at 1 Moody Avenue in Kensington.
By August 1939, the family had moved to Rotorua where J Batchelor ran a photography business in Arawa Street. He continued to referee hockey games, and his wife Elizabeth Maude managed the Rotorua women’s hockey team. They lived in Rotorua until at least 1966.
By 1969, J Batchelor had retired and moved to Thames. He died on the 10th of January 1974 and was buried with his wife at Totara Memorial Park at Thames. Elizabeth Maude Batchelor had died in 1971.
GenderMaleDate of Birth04 October 1896Place of BirthNelson RegionDate of Death10 January 1974Place of Burial/CremationThames, CoromandelOccupationPhotographer
BiographyPatrick Joseph Batchelor was born on the 4th of October in 1896 in the Nelson region. His parents were Thomas Francis Batchelor and Jane Batchelor. In 1922, Patrick James Batchelor married Elizabeth Maude Reach. Their son Roy’s birth was registered in 1923. They had two other children; Joan registered in 1925 and Trevor.
By March 1924, he had opened a business in Cameron Street, Whangarei named The Camera House. He processed film and sold cameras. In 1926, he began to also sell radio sets and their parts.
J Batchelor, as he was known, was also a professional photographer who captured everyday life, landscapes, and cultural scenes. He produced a significant Māori group portrait which is now held in the Alexander Turnbull Library. The print is inscribed: “Te Tauhou April 1932”. This is a black and white outdoor group photograph taken in April 1932 just weeks before the central figure’s death. It shows a very elderly Māori woman. The National Library identifies her as posssibly Te Tauhou Aoripi Pirihi of Takahiwai 1820–25 April 1932 based on the inscription, her apparent extreme age, and local knowledge. She is reclining on a mat, supported by another woman, and covered in traditional cloaks. Included in the portrait are a girl and a young man holding a framed portrait of a young woman. The setting is outdoors beside a tree in front of a small house. The photograph captures a living link to early colonial and pre-colonial Māori life, taken in situ rather than in a formal studio.
Over the years J Batchelor published books or contributed his photographs to books published by others. These included Views of Rotorua published in 1930, Beautiful Views of North Auckland, New Zealand (no date), Scenic Gems of the Bay of Islands, New Zealand (1935). In about 1940 he published Rotorua, Wonderland of New Zealand, in 1955 Geyser Valley Wairakei, New Zealand and The Story of the Great Eruption of Mt. Tarawera, 1886 and in 1956 Waimangu-Te Wairoa Round trip, Rotorua New Zealand. He also produced photographs for postcards.
J Batchelor was a long-standing member of the Whangarei Hockey Association and a member of their management committee. He was a referee of the game for decades.
He became a member of the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce in 1928.
By 1929, he owned a seaside bach at Waipu Cove which he let out furnished for holidayers.
In 1930, the Northern Advocate featured an article about his work entitled “A Day in a Dark Room.” In this article J Batchelor was described as “A specialist in the developing, printing and enlarging of amateur film.” The process of developing film into photographs took 7 to 8 hours. J Batchelor was “The only photographer specialising in amateur finishing in North Auckland.” He used up to date processes and technology and his equipment was capable of producing 1500 photographs in a day.
In July 1930 the family moved to Napier and opened photography businesses in Napier and Hastings. His shop in Cameron Street in Whangarei was managed by a member of his staff, Mrs McKinnon. He witnessed the Napier earthquake on the third of February 1931 and moved back to Whangarei later that month.
In 1931 and 1935, the family lived at 24 Powhiri Avenue in Kensington and by 1938 they were living at 1 Moody Avenue in Kensington.
By August 1939, the family had moved to Rotorua where J Batchelor ran a photography business in Arawa Street. He continued to referee hockey games, and his wife Elizabeth Maude managed the Rotorua women’s hockey team. They lived in Rotorua until at least 1966.
By 1969, J Batchelor had retired and moved to Thames. He died on the 10th of January 1974 and was buried with his wife at Totara Memorial Park at Thames. Elizabeth Maude Batchelor had died in 1971.
GenderMaleDate of Birth04 October 1896Place of BirthNelson RegionDate of Death10 January 1974Place of Burial/CremationThames, CoromandelOccupationPhotographerWhānau
Further Information
Joseph Batchelor. Northland Room Digital Collections, accessed 17/04/2026, https://wdc.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/5525
