Newsnight - Rastus the Cat

This excerpt from mid 90s show Newsnight features the extraordinary story of Max Corkill, and his motorcycle-riding cat Rastus. After having Rastus dumped on him as a kitten while he was motorcycling around Canada, Max took him along on the road. Quickly becoming comfortable on the bike, Rastus would stand on the handlebars as they drove along. Back in New Zealand, the pair became community favourites, and regularly raised money for the local SPCA. They both died on 20 January 1998, after being involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. Producer Irene Gardiner diescribes discovering Rastus' story here. 

It took no teaching really. He was a natural. I put him on and he loved it from day one.

– Max Corkill, on the cat's bike riding ability

Key Cast & Crew

Irene Gardiner

Producer

Julia Leonard

Director

Alison Mau

Presenter

Ingrid Leary

Reporter

Heaton Dyer

Executive Producer