Our Big Blue Backyard - White Island

This episode of Our Big Blue Backyard ventures off the coast of the Bay of Plenty to New Zealand’s most active volcano, Whakaari / White Island. Despite the volatile volcanic activity, a myriad of sea birds and marine life have adapted to life in this toxic landscape. An Australasian gannet colony has made themselves at home on the flanks of the volcano, battling heat and toxic smoke to raise their young. In the waters surrounding the island, dolphins and stingrays hunt for their prey, and amongst a reef of volcanic boulders hundreds of fish live in water bubbling with volcanic gasses.

Fifty kilometres east of New Zealand’s North Island, in the middle of the Bay of Plenty, White Island erupts out of the sea.

– Narrator Michael Hurst

Key Cast & Crew

Judith Curran

Writer, Executive Producer, Writer

Braydon Moloney

Associate Producer

Kina Scollay

Producer, Underwater Cinematographer, Aerial Cinematographer

Michael Hurst

Narrator

Max Quinn

Camera Operator

Doug Clifford-Marsh

Editor