Heartland - Waipū

"Gormless?" Is that his name?

– Host Gary McCormick meets a goat named Gormless

Sometimes the tourists I take through become a little bit apprehensive . . . the thought of this elderly old blind man, with a guide dog, taking them through the caves — they just don't know quite what to make of it. So I always reassure the patient: I tell them "I've never lost anyone in here yet, but there's always got to be a first time".

– Waipū Caves guide George Phiskie on being a blind tour guide

The early immigrants brought with them the traditions and past times of their native Scotland. Many of these have endured until today. This week, Waipū is preparing to stage the annual Highland Games, an event which has been contested every New Year's Day for 123 years.

– Presenter Gary McCormick, at the start of this episode

My sporting achievements have never been significant . . . The Waipū documentary contains an embarrassing moment when I felt I could show Richie Guy that I could throw the sheaf. At they very last minute, I coiled like an angry Highlander, only to have the sheaf trickle off the pitchfork and fall like a broken streamer at a Christmas party!

– Gary McCormick describes an embarrsing moment in front of ex All Black Richie Guy, in 1994 book Heartland, page 167

Now those glow worms, they only take about half a percent of their energy to produce the light, whereas your ordinary light globe takes about 60 percent for heating and 40 percent only goes to light. So when the scientists find out how to do it, we should have cheaper power.

– Waipū Caves tour guide George Phiskie

I am left with two strong images of Waipū and they are both of people. The first was following the world's only blind cave guide George Phiskie and his dog Barney into the bowels of the Earth. George (who lost his sight at the age of 21 as result of rubella) is one of those unfailingly cheerful people of enormous character . . . The second is that of Wally and Chrissie Preston, 87 and 84 years of age respectively . . . There was a lovely moment when I asked Chrissie if she still paid any attention when Wally performed his tricks on horseback. "I've seen it all." she said. "the silly old bugger!"

– Gary McCormick in 1994 tie-in book Heartland page 167