Islands of the Gulf - Rakino and Kawau

In this Islands of the Gulf episode, pioneering broadcaster Shirley Maddock explores the beauty and history of Rakino and Kawau Island. On Rakino, she meets the island’s only child, 12-year-old Rosemary Kirk, who spends her day milking the cows and taking correspondence school lessons. Maddock takes a detour to The Noises, its name derived from the thunderous waves that crash against the islands' in a storm. At Kawau's Mansion House Bay, she mingles with crowds of picnickers and recounts the storied past of Sir George Grey’s house and the exotic wildlife  — including zebras — he introduced.

Warning: A short section running from 15 minutes to 17 minutes contains audio, but no image.

Living on an island requires a degree of self-sufficiency the mainland does not. Life may be more tranquil but it's certainly less idle.

– Presenter Shirley Maddock on island life, early in this episode

Key Cast & Crew

Shirley Maddock

Director, Writer, Producer, Presenter, Interviewer

Don Whyte

Cinematographer