From a pre-Hollywood Taika Waititi to a pre-Prime Ministerially adjacent Clarke Gayford, the audience has always attracted as many
cameras as the runway. (Witness Mike Hosking in a questionably embossed suit, Lucy Lawless in a moustache and Alison Mau, snapped at the very first event in 2001).

The event’s 21st iteration opens tomorrow in Auckland – and New Zealand Herald photographers have been there from the beginning.

Scroll down for an archival look at front rows past, featuring All Blacks, actors, politicians, presenters, supermodels, musicians and absolutely anybody who ever said more than three words on a locally made reality television show.