Zinni Douglas

Zinni Douglas was a much loved Waiheke artist who died suddenly in January, 2007, aged 61. With her husband Ian, Zinni inhabited a world of garden and chooks and farm animals at the end of a quiet gravel road that informed her sophisticated artistic agenda.

She was the founding chairperson of the Waiheke Community Art Gallery in 1995 and her garden studio a key stop on any art tour.

Born Prudence Muriel Polson, she grew up on a farm near Wanganui and was one of two children.

Zinni, as she was dubbed by a family friend, went on to study at Victoria University before travelling in America, Europe and England. She married but returned to New Zealand single, with a son, Oliver.

She came to Waiheke in the 1970s when Ian came to the island to teach. In 1979 they were married. Among Zinni's enterprises on Waiheke were Zinni's Mini Tours and Treebeard Gallery, an early group exhibition space.

Struck by multiple sclerosis as a young woman, Zinni was severely deaf almost all her adult life. She was known for her energy, positivity and wicked sense of humour.

With Zinni Went, a poem by island artist Alex Stone, can be read here.

An obituary by Peta Stavelli can be read here.