Harold Plimmer

Born in 1867 in Hokitika during the gold rush, the son of Rabbi, Isaac Zachariah, Joseph was one of five children. His family later moved to Christchurch where he was educated and began his working career, apprenticed to a jeweller. When the family moved back to the West Coast, Zachariah established a pawnbroking business in Greymouth which he combined with jewellery engraving. In the mid-1890s he moved to Wellington where he was listed as a pawnbroker of Manners Street and Ghuznee Street in Wise’s directory, continuing his money lending business until 1905.

He later developed an interest in cameras and was said to be the first to display photographs of local scenes. From around 1907 his ‘real photo’ postcards became an extension of these photos. He established a photographic supplies business at his first premises on Willis Street, where he would display his cards in the window alongside the cameras for sale. Then around 1910 he opened a studio in Manners Street, continuing to sell cameras as well as catering to low-cost studio portraits and commercial commissions. Taking over the business of Jacob Nathan Isaacs, he named the studio “Zak Studios” or “Zak Studio”. It has been suggested that he ceased the postcard side of his business in 1915 because of a shortage of photographic supplies. In the nine-year period he produced these photographic postcards, William Main suggests as many as 20,000 images were created, although unfortunately few of his postcards seem to have survived. The studio was later taken over by Philip Henry Jauncey in 1923.

Alongside his commercial interests, Zachariah’s photography captured groups of people outside in crowded spaces attending contemporary events. His photography is significant because it provides a commentary of Wellington, documenting this period’s social history. The postcards created from these observational photographs were sold in small editions, intended for local consumption where people were likely to be able identify themselves and subsequently become a customer. Main suggests that the way in which Zachariah charged for his postcards is eluded to in his ‘Zak’ trademark, with Zak being a slang expression for a six-penny piece—more than twice as much as a hand coloured postcard equivalent indicating the demand for his product.

Zachariah was strongly involved in the community, performing in amateur bands, and as a member of the Jewish community where he was President of the Wellington Jewish Social Club from 1905 up until 1921, organising smoke concerts and musical evenings.

He had intended to move to New York after selling his business in 1923, to reunite with his mother, sisters and brother who had immigrated after their father died, but entry to the United States of America was restricted during this period. Instead he took up a position with The APA Insurance Co. where he stayed for the next 25 years. In 1926 he married Irene Connop in Auckland and looked after the books of her business Matis Real Estate. He eventually made it to the US in 1947, but after a couple of years he returned to Wellington. It has been reported that at the age of 80 he continued to be an identity in the local community, working as a lift attendant for Kirkcaldie & Stains. Zachariah died in 1965 in Wellington at the age of 98.