These links also reached Whanganui when in 1996 his exhibition of photographs titled, "Near to Heaven, Travels through Tibet", was shown at the Sarjeant Gallery. As part of the exhibition, Hamish brought three Tibetan monks to make a Sand Mandela under the Sarjeant's dome. An astonishing success, the event drew upwards of 15,000 visitors in 10 days. The photographic works now form part of the Sarjeant's collection.
After rediscovering New Zealand's magical landscapes during recent visits, Hamish made the decision to move back here permanently. He packed the entire contents of his London home and sculptor's studio and shipped it all to New Zealand, and is currently living in the Coromandel. Although Hamish has yet to find a permanent home for his studio he has begun work on a new collection of painting and sculpture that integrate his past and present with the landscape and culture of Aotearoa.