Islands of the Gulf - Episode 4

How to survive in a beautiful place with a limited economy is the theme of this Islands of the Gulf episode. Presenter and co-writer Elisabeth Easther recreates her mother's 1960s trip around the Hauraki Gulf, and asks local residents what they do for work. Wine, tourism and weddings (and the required flowers) all keep the economic powerhouse of Waiheke going, but adventure tourism operator Bianca Ransom offers a different take on the flash Waiheke clichés. On the more isolated Great Barrier Island, Easther meets ex-city dweller Kathy Cummings who works several small jobs, so she can keep living the island life.

...there's this whole idea that Waiheke's like 'the land of the rich' you know; it's like vineyards and big mansions . . . yes that's a part of the island, but then there's people here living in poverty, there's people here living in vehicles. There's like a whole side of Waiheke that people don't know about, and that doesn't get put out into the media, or onto the Condé Nast traveller site...

– Adventure guide Bianca Ransom on the clichés about Waiheke Island

Key Cast & Crew

Don Whyte

Cinematographer - 1964 Series

Laurie Clarke

Writer, Producer

Elisabeth Easther

Writer, Research, Associate Producer, Presenter

Warren Green

Cinematographer

Shirley Maddock

Writer, Producer & Presenter of 1964 series

John Hagen

Field Director