HEARTLAND: OLD MAN KAIPARA

“Kaipara Harbour: Gary McCormick takes a closer look at Kaipara harbour, its maritime marvels and the people who live and make a living on this waterway. McCormick also visits Dargaville for the coronation of the Kūmara Festival king and queen.” (NZ Listener)
Gary McCormick meets the locals and finds out something of what is known as “Old Man Kaipara”. He explains the great Kauri forests of the Kaipara area were decimated in less than 60 years. He goes fishing over the infamous Kaipara Bar and visits an Air Force bombing site at South Head. He meets “ the Queen of the Kaipara” Flora Thirkettle, the first woman commercial fisherman on the harbour and goes cruising with fitter and turner Eric Glavish who makes parts for the fishing boats. Gary does some beach combing with Betty Bamber and her friend Pipi and inspects their “Geriatric Park”
of driftwood sculptures. He participates in the Pahi cabin cruiser regatta and accompanies a flounder fisherman setting his net and then joins the family for a feed of home smoked fish. He takes tea with the pioneering Smith family at Totara House Matakohe and looks at the Kūmara Queen festival at Ruawai. Gary joins a vessel towing a barge and then visits the Forest family at Pouto whose house was last painted in 1954. He finishes the programme with a look at North Head .