Along with Stan Scott, I'm traveling New Zealand's
amazing South Island.
That's quintessential kiwi right there, my friend.
We're meeting soul-of-the-earth kiwis with big DIY tales
to tell.
It's a kind of wonderland of invention, isn't it?
I can't wait to see what happens next.
(LAUGHING) Oh-ho-ho!
Oh, he's good!
So Stan, what's the plan today?
Well, we're just about to shoot down the road, here,
to Hone Tuwhare's crib.
So what's actually there?
What's important about it?
Well, Hone Tuwhare was a Maori poet.
He was very famous around these parts and all around the world,
in fact.
And I'm also involved in restoring the crib.
The crib itself, when you look at it, isn't much.
But that's where Hone did all his work.
And we're going to turn it into a writer's residency.
So, today, I'm obviously going to get you helping out.
Excellent.
Having traveled from Queenstown down to Te Anau
and into the Catlins, today we'll
be spending the whole day in Kaka Point,
before moving north again tomorrow.
This is pretty much one of the most beautiful parts
on the Catlins, Kaka Point.
Tiny little community, just scattered
with a few fibrelite batches.
Couple hundred people, maximum, live here.
So it's a bit of a hidden secret.
A very humble little town.
You can see why Hone chose this place.
Look at the view.
Absolutely!
That's stunning!
Whoa!
Kia Ora Rob!
Kia Ora, Stan?
How are you, my friend?
Good, brother.
Hey, Rob, I'm George.
Hey, George.
Very nice to meet you.
Kia Ora mate.
Welcome.
Thank you.
Well, my friend, we're here to do a little bit of mahi, mate.
What would you like us to do?
We've got the sliding door to put in, Stan.
It's pretty weighty.
(LAUGHING) The last sliding door was a bit of a disaster,
because the goat didn't actually like its own reflection.
So the goat actually destroyed the door.
Brilliant!
Yeah.
So we've got to put this in today, yeah?
Are you up for it?
I'm going to work, for once.
You are, (LAUGHING) mate.
Excellent.
Come on, let's--
These guns aren't painted on, are they?
No, no, no, I'm not working had enough on this trip,
I'll tell you.
Kia Ora, George.
Ready.
Just drop it down on the concrete.
Yep.
And then what we'll do is we'll lean it back a little bit,
so then we'll just put our bottom in.
Rightio.
Lovely.
Look at that.
Made to fit.
Beautiful!
While Stan keeps on with the next job,
Rob's keen to give me a tour inside his dad's place.
So, Rob, this is such a special place.
And the view is fantastic.
You can just see how the landscape, the ocean, the sky
would have inspired your father.
Yeah, Dad loved the ocean.
And he spent the last 16 years of his life here,
wrote four books from this crib.
Tell me about how your dad's writing has inspired
so many people in New Zealand.
Dad's from a working-class background-- boilermaker,
by trade.
And he speaks the common language.
Yeah, he didn't go to university.
And he didn't go to high school, actually.
So that voice comes through, and people can identify with that.
What's your ambition for this, when it's all done?
When it's all restored, and it's all finished,
what's it going to do for people?
This will be the first residency in the home of a Maori
writer in this country.
You know, this thing is about [MAORI],,
which is welcoming people and making them feel at ease.
It's incredible how a building can
be so simple, as a structure, but actually be very powerful
and mean a lot culturally to so many people.
Honestly, I feel honored and blessed
to have seen this place today.
Thank you.
Good to see you, brother.
Thank you, Stan.
Catch you next time.
Health and happiness, yeah.
Look after yourself.
Take care.
See you!
See ya, Rob.
That would inspire any writer, wouldn't it?
[GUITAR PLAYING]
(SINGING) The air that was thick with the whir of toitoi spears
succumbs at last to the grey gull's will,
to the grey gull's will.
[MUSIC ENDS]
Stan, where are you taking me?
[LAUGH] Just trust me on this one, all right?
Now, a couple of the boys have put down a whitebaiting net.
So, with a little bit of luck, we'll jump out onto the wharf,
and we'll be pulling up some whitebait a little bit later.
Oh, brilliant!
Yeah.
Oh, Stan, this is super-cute.
This is kiwiana at its best, my friend.
So is this kind of just built out
of stuff that was lying around?
Pretty much, mate.
You know, that timber's probably well over 100 years old.
There's bits of tar seal on there
that's comes straight off the edge of the road.
Got an old potbelly in there for when you're sitting out here
in wintertime, you know?
Belting out the heat?
Yeah!
Do you know what?
It seems to me like it's just another one
of those really simple, minimal structures that works
so well with the landscape.
Doesn't it?
It's a classic excuse to get out [LAUGH] and, you know,
put some nails--
Build something.
Yeah, build something.
So how much variation is there, in terms
of style, scale, design?
Oh, huge, mate.
I mean, obviously this is a real humble little one.
You go to the West Coast, and you'll find stands halfway
across the river.
But essentially, the function is the same.
You want to come out here for some solitude couple of mates,
probably a couple of beers.
You've got the fire going, you've got some great scenery,
and hopefully you've got some great food.
Brilliant.
Shall we see if there's some fish?
All right, you grab that, mate.
Yep.
OK.
I'll let this one go.
Rightio.
Love the simplicity of these.
It's heavy.
It is.
Oh, I think we've got a good catch.
Happy days!
OK.
Tip her out.
Let's have a look, eh?
Cool.
Oh-ho!
Now, that is a funny-looking whitebait.
Is that one?
Hey look there's one.
There's one!
[LAUGH] There's one.
One tiny little whitebait.
What's going on, there?
Uh, there's one thing I forgot to tell you, my friend.
It's actually not whitebaiting season, at the moment.
But you could eat the eels, but I
do have a little surprise for you for dinner, though.
I'm intrigued.
Stan, we've seen some great stuff today,
but I have to say I'm completely knackered.
[LAUGH] Well, look, mate, I've just got one more spot
I've got to take you to, and then
you can have your wee little kip, eh?
Our last stop is a South Island crib,
built from a medley of leftover materials.
Stan, are we staying here?
(LAUGHING) Yeah.
This is your classic New Zealand crib.
That it is beautiful, mate.
So is this a kind of Southern Island version
of a North Island batch?
You got it, mate.
Is it?
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
This particular one was actually made from an old paddle
steamer that was built back in the 1800s, as you can see, yes.
What!
Isn't that lovely.
All the fittings, even the front handrail, is from the ship.
That is awesome.
Shall we have a seat?
Ah!
I haven't been in one of these for ages!
Yep.
Ready?
Go!
Ah!
What a view!
The big briny.
What more could you ask for?
Transistor, looking straight at the power board--
[LAUGH]
Yeah, you don't really see that when you're looking at the sea.
It's fine.
Yeah.
Shall we have a look around?
Yeah, come on, mate.
All right.
Do you know what?
I was getting too comfortable, there, to be honest.
[LAUGH]
Oh, Stan, come and have a look at this kitchen.
This is awesome.
Loads of original features still in here.
Lovely old zip.
Lovely.
And then, up here--
ah, and this is where you really feel like you're in a boat!
With the long strip windows.
Look, even this old cabin hatch, here.
Man!
It's like being in a little museum!
So this must be one of the add-ons, yeah?
[LAUGH]
And it gets smaller and smaller and smaller
and-- well, you're all right.
What are you worried about?
This is absolutely perfect.
Here, this is--
This is like--
doesn't really work for me.
This is absolutely perfect.
And this is exactly how I would have built it.
Climbing through add-on after add-on,
this family crib feels like a well-loved antique, absolutely
chock-a-full of history.
She's a bit rough rounds edges but, I can see,
all the more special for it.
Stan, what a day, mate.
It's been absolutely fantastic.
(LAUGHING) I know we didn't catch any whitebait in the net,
but I managed to rustle you up a couple of whitebait fritters.
This looks the bomb, man.
I've never had one before!
And it's only in this part of the world
that you actually have it on toast, as well.
Cool, man.
Oh, man!
That is so good!
Honestly, Stan, that is truly amazing.
Can we do the same, tomorrow?
Let's do it, my friend.
I cannot get enough of the gorgeous views and vistas
of the surrounding landscape.
It's stunning!
So, can I have a job?
You'll be wanting to go home, in a week, but--
[LAUGHTER]
Murray, I've got to say, mate, you are one lucky man.