September 4, 2025 • 8 mins
Bruce Ford looks at happenings down at Stewart Island from over the past few months.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Welcome back to the muster on Hock and Nui. We
cover all parts of the South here on the Muster.
I had down to Stuart Island this afternoon, in fact,
catching up with Bruce Ford, who we catch up with
every now and then, to catch up on Stuart Island musings,
remembering the part of the renfree Shield holding Southland Province.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Bruce, Good afternoon, hell Saggs.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
How you're doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Not too bad? How's everything down there on the third Aisle.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Oh, we think we're doing pretty good, well better than
everybody else, of course, but it s un always shines here.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
What's there everage rainfall there? Bruce?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
About sixteen? Let me see sixteen?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
All those sunfull days they make up for the rain, right.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Well, we certainly still get our dry moments. You get
January February, and you know that people still get sort
of domestic water because you get a period through the
year for six or eight weeks where nothing much happens
and there's I'm continuous to shine. Now.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
We talk about housing projects around the country, housing in
general just being in this shoe, and there's no different
down in Stuart Island. But there's something that's being done
about it.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yes, over many years of course, and we all know
about the housing country wide and South End. There's no
other than that. But I and a bunch of trustees
have been working on a housing project for our seniors
to downsize. And of course with the cost of services
and electristy in all that being around here Peach and
(01:39):
you can't financially and physically look after a big property.
So what we're planning is to have half a dozen
and fifty square meter units all fully set up and
looked after with electristy in communications included, perhaps a window cleaner,
and we'll look after people too in the latter ages.
(02:00):
And of course the other notus on that is that
it will release six larger family homes for other people
coming in that will provide industry, labor and the likes,
which is always a challenge to young families to get started.
So hopefully that's a bit of a womb now just
were construction is meant to be a sort of a
(02:21):
factory fact that gets set and then stand up very
very fast. And of course the same sort of thing
that could be replicated any around South and or beyond,
So I would hope that we would make a great
example for other communities to look after their seniors and
keep them on site.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
As far as the elderly population on Stuart Island, Bruce,
what would you say numbers are.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
We've got an excess of twenty five percent, so out
of four sixty, you know, that's quite a lot of
times that it gets out and a few wives out.
There's not many people that wan't work, but you know,
it's an excess of twenty five percent. We have more
than some other places. Now. The other end of this
is that we have been busy fundraising and I've got
(03:08):
seven hundred grand at our fingertips, but I could do
with another million. So got your listers out there that
could help me with some sort of finance, We'd be
more than happy to help to talk to them.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Seven hundred grand for fundraising gets a lot of cheese.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Rolls a turn years, and you know, we've got some
pretty good supporters around here. So the cheese rolls are
definitely in that system. And there's been house tours and
there have been all manner of raffles and god knows what,
so we have a lot of that sort of support.
But there's been two or three big ones as well
in the Anglican Diocese have promised US four hundred grands.
(03:45):
So that's been a marvelous boost to get that commitment
from the church. And whilst financial, they have that spiritual
support that where we're really appreciate.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Now talk of a solar farm on Stuart Island. What's
the spare.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
That is proposed to begin contract in January? As tenders
and stuff have been out through council, they've been closed
and I have believed they've been left. So there's twenty
five million from Mark Patterson was here and dished out
that announcement or perhaps a month six weeks ago, and
(04:23):
that includes a network upgrade. There's a whole lot of
bits and pieces to reduce our diesel consumption by seventy
five percent. And that's pretty important because at four hundred
bucks a week from my power doll months rather you know,
that's hell or handful and for seniors on a pench
(04:45):
and if there's only one of you, pretty damn hard
to pay those sort of charges.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
So when is this proposed to be up and running?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
That's the project on January, and of course there'll have
to be some land clearance to set it up. I
just off here and I can't quite remember the numbers
on it, but it's a big project and it will
have a large battery with it as well, so that
when it's on shining, it'll charge into a battery. There
will be nothing ever again in the way of a
(05:14):
power cut, because battery would pick up all power cuts.
So that's a very important part of our community in
that respect. So just between five million, well we will
tickle pink with that, and of course the the improvements
in the up in the network upgrades will be a
big help because that was originally started in nineteen eighty eight,
(05:36):
so the network has stood up pretty good to that.
But there'll be a lot more automation come into this,
and I would hope that we could decrease some of
our commitment to having staff on hand all the time
to look after things. You know, when I'm stand by
a course, that's that's a cost. So we're looking for
some new economics.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Well all hear about predator free New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Stewart Island is no different, and it sounds as though
the locals have been taking it upon themselves regarding rat
trapping and the likes.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Yeah, there's a few different colors and when you say
locals some are totally anti a poisoning arrangement, and we
have some other community people that get out there and
put their hands on things and to trapping around the community,
and there's been a great reduction in rats and possums
around the community. So you wouldn't it be so lovely
(06:27):
if you didn't have to put poison or rat traps
out and look after that sort of aspect. And of
course if that's extended beyond the village, well the bird
life would make a tremendous difference. And we all know
what possums and rats and things do the Kiwi eggs
and the rest of the birds. You know to my
mind that it can't be bad.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
What are the key we numbers over on Stuart Island exactly, Bruce?
Do you have an idea?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Pretty hard? There's a lot of different areas on that,
but the one that I use is thirty thousand Kiwi
and yep, we've got a pretty big panic here in
the six forty square miles of it. So it's you know,
all the time, we've got lots of keywage around the
village and I live right in town behind the pub
(07:18):
and there's regular keywis in my garden through the night.
We gar them scuffling around, and I didn't believe until
I saw them and I went out one night. I
thought we had a cat in the art, and we
go and pack it and was the key at that gate.
So you know, eleven o'clock at night as you pick
an eye out the worms.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Aguaculture as well is a big part of the island.
Cray fishing is in full swing. How's it going.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, Gray fishing just ticks away there by itself, but
just forever industry. And these days of the cray fish
are pretty pretty easy to catch and pretty much caught
to order, and go on on the days when everything
you see it caught, and the open side of them
these days are as much better managed and the fishery
(08:03):
has improved dramatically.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Bruce Ford of Stuart Island. Always appreciate your time on
the muster.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You enjoy the weekend, Jillie Gold, thank you very much, Andy.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Bruce Ford of Stuart Island. Sounds rather hard case. S Actually,
you're pretty cool. Strolling home from the park and the
keewy just walks past you. That's what you call life.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Always good to catch up with the Bruce before we
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Wrap up on the week here Risident Sporting Gury Nathan
Burdon tying to get fizzed up about this game of
rugby tomorrow
Welcome back to the muster on Hock and Nui. We
cover all parts of the South here on the Muster.
I had down to Stuart Island this afternoon, in fact,
catching up with Bruce Ford, who we catch up with
every now and then, to catch up on Stuart Island musings,
remembering the part of the renfree Shield holding Southland Province.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Bruce, Good afternoon, hell Saggs.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
How you're doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Not too bad? How's everything down there on the third Aisle.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Oh, we think we're doing pretty good, well better than
everybody else, of course, but it s un always shines here.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
What's there everage rainfall there? Bruce?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
About sixteen? Let me see sixteen?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
All those sunfull days they make up for the rain, right.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Well, we certainly still get our dry moments. You get
January February, and you know that people still get sort
of domestic water because you get a period through the
year for six or eight weeks where nothing much happens
and there's I'm continuous to shine. Now.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
We talk about housing projects around the country, housing in
general just being in this shoe, and there's no different
down in Stuart Island. But there's something that's being done
about it.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yes, over many years of course, and we all know
about the housing country wide and South End. There's no
other than that. But I and a bunch of trustees
have been working on a housing project for our seniors
to downsize. And of course with the cost of services
and electristy in all that being around here Peach and
(01:39):
you can't financially and physically look after a big property.
So what we're planning is to have half a dozen
and fifty square meter units all fully set up and
looked after with electristy in communications included, perhaps a window cleaner,
and we'll look after people too in the latter ages.
(02:00):
And of course the other notus on that is that
it will release six larger family homes for other people
coming in that will provide industry, labor and the likes,
which is always a challenge to young families to get started.
So hopefully that's a bit of a womb now just
were construction is meant to be a sort of a
(02:21):
factory fact that gets set and then stand up very
very fast. And of course the same sort of thing
that could be replicated any around South and or beyond,
So I would hope that we would make a great
example for other communities to look after their seniors and
keep them on site.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
As far as the elderly population on Stuart Island, Bruce,
what would you say numbers are.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
We've got an excess of twenty five percent, so out
of four sixty, you know, that's quite a lot of
times that it gets out and a few wives out.
There's not many people that wan't work, but you know,
it's an excess of twenty five percent. We have more
than some other places. Now. The other end of this
is that we have been busy fundraising and I've got
(03:08):
seven hundred grand at our fingertips, but I could do
with another million. So got your listers out there that
could help me with some sort of finance, We'd be
more than happy to help to talk to them.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Seven hundred grand for fundraising gets a lot of cheese.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Rolls a turn years, and you know, we've got some
pretty good supporters around here. So the cheese rolls are
definitely in that system. And there's been house tours and
there have been all manner of raffles and god knows what,
so we have a lot of that sort of support.
But there's been two or three big ones as well
in the Anglican Diocese have promised US four hundred grands.
(03:45):
So that's been a marvelous boost to get that commitment
from the church. And whilst financial, they have that spiritual
support that where we're really appreciate.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Now talk of a solar farm on Stuart Island. What's
the spare.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
That is proposed to begin contract in January? As tenders
and stuff have been out through council, they've been closed
and I have believed they've been left. So there's twenty
five million from Mark Patterson was here and dished out
that announcement or perhaps a month six weeks ago, and
(04:23):
that includes a network upgrade. There's a whole lot of
bits and pieces to reduce our diesel consumption by seventy
five percent. And that's pretty important because at four hundred
bucks a week from my power doll months rather you know,
that's hell or handful and for seniors on a pench
(04:45):
and if there's only one of you, pretty damn hard
to pay those sort of charges.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
So when is this proposed to be up and running?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
That's the project on January, and of course there'll have
to be some land clearance to set it up. I
just off here and I can't quite remember the numbers
on it, but it's a big project and it will
have a large battery with it as well, so that
when it's on shining, it'll charge into a battery. There
will be nothing ever again in the way of a
(05:14):
power cut, because battery would pick up all power cuts.
So that's a very important part of our community in
that respect. So just between five million, well we will
tickle pink with that, and of course the the improvements
in the up in the network upgrades will be a
big help because that was originally started in nineteen eighty eight,
(05:36):
so the network has stood up pretty good to that.
But there'll be a lot more automation come into this,
and I would hope that we could decrease some of
our commitment to having staff on hand all the time
to look after things. You know, when I'm stand by
a course, that's that's a cost. So we're looking for
some new economics.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Well all hear about predator free New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Stewart Island is no different, and it sounds as though
the locals have been taking it upon themselves regarding rat
trapping and the likes.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Yeah, there's a few different colors and when you say
locals some are totally anti a poisoning arrangement, and we
have some other community people that get out there and
put their hands on things and to trapping around the community,
and there's been a great reduction in rats and possums
around the community. So you wouldn't it be so lovely
(06:27):
if you didn't have to put poison or rat traps
out and look after that sort of aspect. And of
course if that's extended beyond the village, well the bird
life would make a tremendous difference. And we all know
what possums and rats and things do the Kiwi eggs
and the rest of the birds. You know to my
mind that it can't be bad.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
What are the key we numbers over on Stuart Island exactly, Bruce?
Do you have an idea?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Pretty hard? There's a lot of different areas on that,
but the one that I use is thirty thousand Kiwi
and yep, we've got a pretty big panic here in
the six forty square miles of it. So it's you know,
all the time, we've got lots of keywage around the
village and I live right in town behind the pub
(07:18):
and there's regular keywis in my garden through the night.
We gar them scuffling around, and I didn't believe until
I saw them and I went out one night. I
thought we had a cat in the art, and we
go and pack it and was the key at that gate.
So you know, eleven o'clock at night as you pick
an eye out the worms.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Aguaculture as well is a big part of the island.
Cray fishing is in full swing. How's it going.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, Gray fishing just ticks away there by itself, but
just forever industry. And these days of the cray fish
are pretty pretty easy to catch and pretty much caught
to order, and go on on the days when everything
you see it caught, and the open side of them
these days are as much better managed and the fishery
(08:03):
has improved dramatically.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Bruce Ford of Stuart Island. Always appreciate your time on
the muster.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You enjoy the weekend, Jillie Gold, thank you very much, Andy.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Bruce Ford of Stuart Island. Sounds rather hard case. S Actually,
you're pretty cool. Strolling home from the park and the
keewy just walks past you. That's what you call life.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Always good to catch up with the Bruce before we
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Wrap up on the week here Risident Sporting Gury Nathan
Burdon tying to get fizzed up about this game of
rugby tomorrow
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