November 26, 2025 • 9 mins
Our Stewart Island correspondent looks at happenings from the other side of Foveaux Strait.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Duran. Duran is the artist. The song is called Ordinary World.
You're listening to the muster. Although it's fair to say
our next guest lives in somewhere that is pretty extraordinary.
To coin a phrase, Bruce Ford lives down at Stuart Island.
They're corresponding from down that way. We catch up from
time to time. Bruce, good afternoon, Good afternoon, and how
are you today. Oh look, it's the weather's on this
(00:34):
way up. It's it's a thing of beauty after what
we've experienced over the past couple of months.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, it it's made a considerable difference around here. And
we've got a nice sunny day here and now and
whilst it's been within a few days of that, all
the lawns and need bed mowing and everything's growing pretty crazy.
I've got a large hydroponics letus operation going and it
was unshine and that and the other day it was
(01:01):
up to the best part of thirty degrees on nutrient,
which is that's a pretty good push really.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
The wind storm we had in the South a few
weeks back. Now down there you reckon, you got off
pretty scott free. Bruce.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Ah, Yes, we did it. Wef we did get some wind,
and that's irregular occasion here. We'll be pretty strong and
things were typed down pretty good. But certainly I couldn't
find anywhere i'd going any firewoods, So that's the level
of what we got so compared to the rest of
the region.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
But down there on Stuart Island a lot of school
groups have been down there lately. It's the tourism season.
Cruise ships have they been in abundance.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Cruise ships are started off again, so we had had
a few of those in I can't recall an angeling.
But whilst cruise ships have been threatened other parts of
the country, I think our team are still holding pretty good,
so we've been reasonably successful.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
So are you're seeing no change in numbers visiting numbers?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Ah, The cruise ships are there pretty kenny. They fucking
choose a bit and they'll I think even off again.
But I think we should regard them as bonus anyway,
because we've had lots of other tourists. There's bird watchers
and the likes. At this time of years, things just
quite busy here, So you know where were pleased with that?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Would you say tourist numbers are back to pre COVID levels.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I haven't checked the numbers that my belief is that
they will be and we get a good tally on
that from ours stood on us to levy records when
I get reports on that, and I haven't seen a
recent one, but i'd believed pretty much back to pre COVID.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
So what's the levy for going to Stuart Island?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Fifteen dollars? Currently started off at five and it's just
in corporated and the fair and I've not heard a
murmur that anybody's even noticed it.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Oh why would you? I mean, you're quite happy to
play it. If you've got to go somewhere. There needs
to be expenditure, some infrastructures in place, right.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Well exactly, And we've collected an excess of one and
a half million dollars. It's been used on community facilities
and jetties and walking tracks and toilets that sort of thing,
so things that rape players surely can't be expected to
pay for.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
You talk about tourists, and you talk about ships, but
the Navy they've been in town as well.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah, we didn't think we had a defense problem, but
the Navy turned up yesterday and that was a bit
of a bonus around town. There were lots of sailors
ashore and Tikaha. The school kids apparently had a visit
to the ship and they'd look round, so I believe
there was one hundred and sixty of crowbar there. They
sailed again last night eight o'clock, so they were heading
(03:42):
for the need and so certainly gave them a bit
of fresh air, and no doubt spent some money because
some of the eateries quite pleased to see them.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So they weren't coming to check your hydro products set up.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
No, no, they probably they'd probably get their own share.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
In for sure. Now, one figure that absolutely astounds with
a Stewart Island is the amount of vehicles there. I
think you see. Was that six hundred odd vehicles? Is
that right? Ye? Twenty road yeah, and twenty k's of road.
But the good news is that the roads are getting resealed, yes.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Somewhere, I spect after Christmas. They all it's a regular
sequence now every fifteen years or so, and they gravel
stop poles. The ceiling chips have been accumulating for the
last few months because of course it's all going to
be shipped, and no doubt the tinker will turn up
after Christmas and there'll be two or three weeks to
(04:44):
time they get even think tied it up, and then
we'll get some fresh road markings and doing it we
stick and stand.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
You're going to be honest, every fifteen years they redo
the roads for you must be pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yeah, well, that's right.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
And it's a bit of a different smell around the
roads for a little while because we don't have any
major heavy vehicles on them, so they don't take as
much damage as your heavy trucks do on your side. Well,
the only smell coming off those roads would be the
smell of progress that'd suggest, oh yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And you know it's a bit tidy up because there's
always a few repairs happened prior to it and patching
and water tables and all that stuff. So it's a
good reason to get things tidied up.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Now, are solar upgrades on the cards as well.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yes, we've had some time ago. A few months ago
we had Matt Patterson turned up with a blessing for
the community with some regional development money for solar farm.
So that's to happen after Christmas. It's the start of it. Anyway,
and there'll be some upgrades with their lines system, deesel generators, patteries,
(05:55):
so that in theory we should ever get a power
cup again, and hopefully the price will change on to
reduce our price, because we paid eighty five cents a
unit currently and there are some suggests in that thirty
or forty cents the unit will be a reduction from
their eighty five. Well as far as infrastructure around that,
(06:17):
that's fantastic. Yeah, I want to make a hell of
a difference to anybody in business because you know, the
power villa is a fair chunk of course, and on
top of electricity, we use LPG for cooking, diese, looking,
eating coal, all those things. So our power bills are well,
mine's four hundred bucks of months, but everybody in town
(06:38):
that gets fought and dollar bill has electric stove and aater,
eating and everything electric, so you know we have to
skimp and scrape away bit.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Well, it's probably not that easy to go and get
a Guess, but a lot of megion.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I know, we have a regular Guess supply here at
Guess swimming stations over just a local garage supply the guess.
It's pretty straightforward.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
The Micael Garret will be a master of all trades too.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Oh hell, yes, yes, yes, of course, because I I
used to work for the one stage.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Oh there you go, say no more, Bruce. Now, one
thing that's really yours about Stuart Island when I've spoken
to you in the past is the fact that you'll
see key we walking down the street. But another thing
at the moment is the doctoral they're nesting and it's
bringing people to the island.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah. The latest reports that Dark have been putting out
in the media, of course, is a positive, positive response
for the doctoral nesting on petin around rapy Her and
so forth. And because of the poison operation at rivers
and cats and wraps and things, the doctorals apparently are
doing very well. The couns are increasing dramatically and that's
(07:46):
looking pretty good.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Just finally as well. You're a former counselor for the
Southern District. I spoke to Rob Scott earlier in the
program about the chance of amalgamations of councilors. What are
your thoughts around this.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
I agree that it's well overdue. You know, we've only
got one hundred thousand people in South lond and four
councils is a bit rich. We could do a whole
lot of it on that and Polly supporting Robin's attempts
to have it changed around. But regional councilors have got
out of hand, So I agree with Shane Jones on
that one. That's a great move.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
So an area like Stuart Island would benefit.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Well, nothing really will change, you just get just reshaped
a bit. You know, we had reorganization in eighty nine
when we had our own council here and that got
a Malcolm athed into South End and we've managed on
that and that's been successful. So I don't see any
reason why if we steverle a regional council. But the
(08:47):
work will still go on because those people will still
get a job, will still be work to do. Just
the headings will change.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Good on your brace. Always appreciate your time on the muster.
You enjoyed the afternoon on beautiful Stewart. I thank you
very much, Sandy bruce Ford down at Stuart Island. There's
a figure for the pub tonight eight hundred vehicles on
Stuart Island. You'd never believe that. That's outstanding. Nathan Burdon
is a resident sporting Gury. We talk a bit of sport. Next,
(09:17):
you're listening to the Muster
Duran. Duran is the artist. The song is called Ordinary World.
You're listening to the muster. Although it's fair to say
our next guest lives in somewhere that is pretty extraordinary.
To coin a phrase, Bruce Ford lives down at Stuart Island.
They're corresponding from down that way. We catch up from
time to time. Bruce, good afternoon, Good afternoon, and how
are you today. Oh look, it's the weather's on this
(00:34):
way up. It's it's a thing of beauty after what
we've experienced over the past couple of months.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, it it's made a considerable difference around here. And
we've got a nice sunny day here and now and
whilst it's been within a few days of that, all
the lawns and need bed mowing and everything's growing pretty crazy.
I've got a large hydroponics letus operation going and it
was unshine and that and the other day it was
(01:01):
up to the best part of thirty degrees on nutrient,
which is that's a pretty good push really.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
The wind storm we had in the South a few
weeks back. Now down there you reckon, you got off
pretty scott free. Bruce.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Ah, Yes, we did it. Wef we did get some wind,
and that's irregular occasion here. We'll be pretty strong and
things were typed down pretty good. But certainly I couldn't
find anywhere i'd going any firewoods, So that's the level
of what we got so compared to the rest of
the region.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
But down there on Stuart Island a lot of school
groups have been down there lately. It's the tourism season.
Cruise ships have they been in abundance.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Cruise ships are started off again, so we had had
a few of those in I can't recall an angeling.
But whilst cruise ships have been threatened other parts of
the country, I think our team are still holding pretty good,
so we've been reasonably successful.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
So are you're seeing no change in numbers visiting numbers?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Ah, The cruise ships are there pretty kenny. They fucking
choose a bit and they'll I think even off again.
But I think we should regard them as bonus anyway,
because we've had lots of other tourists. There's bird watchers
and the likes. At this time of years, things just
quite busy here, So you know where were pleased with that?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Would you say tourist numbers are back to pre COVID levels.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I haven't checked the numbers that my belief is that
they will be and we get a good tally on
that from ours stood on us to levy records when
I get reports on that, and I haven't seen a
recent one, but i'd believed pretty much back to pre COVID.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
So what's the levy for going to Stuart Island?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Fifteen dollars? Currently started off at five and it's just
in corporated and the fair and I've not heard a
murmur that anybody's even noticed it.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Oh why would you? I mean, you're quite happy to
play it. If you've got to go somewhere. There needs
to be expenditure, some infrastructures in place, right.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Well exactly, And we've collected an excess of one and
a half million dollars. It's been used on community facilities
and jetties and walking tracks and toilets that sort of thing,
so things that rape players surely can't be expected to
pay for.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
You talk about tourists, and you talk about ships, but
the Navy they've been in town as well.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah, we didn't think we had a defense problem, but
the Navy turned up yesterday and that was a bit
of a bonus around town. There were lots of sailors
ashore and Tikaha. The school kids apparently had a visit
to the ship and they'd look round, so I believe
there was one hundred and sixty of crowbar there. They
sailed again last night eight o'clock, so they were heading
(03:42):
for the need and so certainly gave them a bit
of fresh air, and no doubt spent some money because
some of the eateries quite pleased to see them.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So they weren't coming to check your hydro products set up.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
No, no, they probably they'd probably get their own share.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
In for sure. Now, one figure that absolutely astounds with
a Stewart Island is the amount of vehicles there. I
think you see. Was that six hundred odd vehicles? Is
that right? Ye? Twenty road yeah, and twenty k's of road.
But the good news is that the roads are getting resealed, yes.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Somewhere, I spect after Christmas. They all it's a regular
sequence now every fifteen years or so, and they gravel
stop poles. The ceiling chips have been accumulating for the
last few months because of course it's all going to
be shipped, and no doubt the tinker will turn up
after Christmas and there'll be two or three weeks to
(04:44):
time they get even think tied it up, and then
we'll get some fresh road markings and doing it we
stick and stand.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
You're going to be honest, every fifteen years they redo
the roads for you must be pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yeah, well, that's right.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
And it's a bit of a different smell around the
roads for a little while because we don't have any
major heavy vehicles on them, so they don't take as
much damage as your heavy trucks do on your side. Well,
the only smell coming off those roads would be the
smell of progress that'd suggest, oh yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And you know it's a bit tidy up because there's
always a few repairs happened prior to it and patching
and water tables and all that stuff. So it's a
good reason to get things tidied up.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Now, are solar upgrades on the cards as well.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yes, we've had some time ago. A few months ago
we had Matt Patterson turned up with a blessing for
the community with some regional development money for solar farm.
So that's to happen after Christmas. It's the start of it. Anyway,
and there'll be some upgrades with their lines system, deesel generators, patteries,
(05:55):
so that in theory we should ever get a power
cup again, and hopefully the price will change on to
reduce our price, because we paid eighty five cents a
unit currently and there are some suggests in that thirty
or forty cents the unit will be a reduction from
their eighty five. Well as far as infrastructure around that,
(06:17):
that's fantastic. Yeah, I want to make a hell of
a difference to anybody in business because you know, the
power villa is a fair chunk of course, and on
top of electricity, we use LPG for cooking, diese, looking,
eating coal, all those things. So our power bills are well,
mine's four hundred bucks of months, but everybody in town
(06:38):
that gets fought and dollar bill has electric stove and aater,
eating and everything electric, so you know we have to
skimp and scrape away bit.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Well, it's probably not that easy to go and get
a Guess, but a lot of megion.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I know, we have a regular Guess supply here at
Guess swimming stations over just a local garage supply the guess.
It's pretty straightforward.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
The Micael Garret will be a master of all trades too.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Oh hell, yes, yes, yes, of course, because I I
used to work for the one stage.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Oh there you go, say no more, Bruce. Now, one
thing that's really yours about Stuart Island when I've spoken
to you in the past is the fact that you'll
see key we walking down the street. But another thing
at the moment is the doctoral they're nesting and it's
bringing people to the island.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah. The latest reports that Dark have been putting out
in the media, of course, is a positive, positive response
for the doctoral nesting on petin around rapy Her and
so forth. And because of the poison operation at rivers
and cats and wraps and things, the doctorals apparently are
doing very well. The couns are increasing dramatically and that's
(07:46):
looking pretty good.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Just finally as well. You're a former counselor for the
Southern District. I spoke to Rob Scott earlier in the
program about the chance of amalgamations of councilors. What are
your thoughts around this.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
I agree that it's well overdue. You know, we've only
got one hundred thousand people in South lond and four
councils is a bit rich. We could do a whole
lot of it on that and Polly supporting Robin's attempts
to have it changed around. But regional councilors have got
out of hand, So I agree with Shane Jones on
that one. That's a great move.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
So an area like Stuart Island would benefit.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Well, nothing really will change, you just get just reshaped
a bit. You know, we had reorganization in eighty nine
when we had our own council here and that got
a Malcolm athed into South End and we've managed on
that and that's been successful. So I don't see any
reason why if we steverle a regional council. But the
(08:47):
work will still go on because those people will still
get a job, will still be work to do. Just
the headings will change.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Good on your brace. Always appreciate your time on the muster.
You enjoyed the afternoon on beautiful Stewart. I thank you
very much, Sandy bruce Ford down at Stuart Island. There's
a figure for the pub tonight eight hundred vehicles on
Stuart Island. You'd never believe that. That's outstanding. Nathan Burdon
is a resident sporting Gury. We talk a bit of sport. Next,
(09:17):
you're listening to the Muster
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