July 6, 2026 • 8 mins
Bruce Ford gives an update around life on Stewart Island.
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
We love me. Yes.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yet we're away down to Stuart Island this afternoon on
the musk, catching up with our correspondent down those ways,
Bruce Ford, former South Industric councilor these days resides on
the at the island at the bottom of New Zealand. Bruce, Good, afternoon.
Do you get frustrated when people called the need in
the Deep South?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Sometimes we do, you, but of course we usually try
and refute that it's we get off better than lots
of other places. You know, Denise, you've got flounds and
all swat things at the moments, and you know they
have our sympathy that for all us we don't get
flood so much. It's about six degrees at the moment.
We're awey bit climate controlled here.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, talking about the climate. How's it be over? Winter
has been cooler than usual or a bit more mild?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Wow, it's only just this last few days that it's
the coldshead us a lieve bit and it's been very mild.
The lots of the stuff in the garden there's roses
and currents all got buds on them, and you know
it's we've been able to kill them. But I suppose
that's climate change will be ready for ectonelic fountains anytime.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Everything's just a little bit out of whack at the
moment you reckon.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Well, I think everywhere everybody's having a different season bus
out of it.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, for sure. Now the big issue down there has
been regarding the price of electricity, the sol of farmers
on the horizon. What's happening around this.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I know the the ben a grant from our government
to established the solar farm, and that's being on the
competed on the road to the Estrap former gun Sight
or rather former gun clubs site where a lot of
people around south and won't be familiar with. And it's
(02:06):
all cleared off now. The contractors have been peered or
a bush off it and supposedly it'll be operating by January.
So there's quite a lot of work to do yet,
but certainly the site it's all nicely cleared and we'll
be very pleased about that because the electricity currently has
been changed out at ninety three cents per unit, which
(02:27):
is at least three four times more than what you
people might be paying.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
So it's fair to say this will be a game
changer for electricity on the island.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Well, it's certainly going to help. And of course we
skimp all the electricty we use. It's only lights and fringes,
so it's not as if you have water heating and
electric stves and things. So we still have you know,
we've got the LPG and cold ranges and likes. But
certainly it'll be a big help. But I'm suspecting that
(02:57):
people will just use a bit for electricity. It may
not change the total bills but will be a bit
easy to get on with.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Now we spoke to you last time the task ceiling
was going on around the island. This is all be completed.
I understand, yep.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
It's taking them for six weeks or so to complete,
and the contractor has done all that. It's all looking
pretty tidy in We get that about every fifteen years
or so, and they because our loadings are not as
great as they are on the other side with eavy
trucks and things, we make it last a bit longer.
So it's all tidied up now, or it's been remarked.
(03:34):
And I'm very conscious now that the parking tickets and
any road rules are We breached the copper on his
toes and it could well be some tickets around.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Do you get parking tickets down there?
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Oh, yes we do. And there's no point having complacency
if you're driving around here, because the first thing that's
happened to you go to the other side and you
get caught for doing something you shouldn't have and of
course it could be worse than that, you could have
an accident.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Now, as far as senior cottages, this is something that's
been on the horizon for a while for the elderly
members of your community and fundraising to get new digs.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Yes, there's been on the agenda for many many well
quite a long time now, and it's been a pet
of mine. And of course it's been such that we
have a trustet up and we've bought some land and
we have all the fans have drawn up. We've been
fundraising for that. We've got about one point three million
lined up. We need a couple of million overall. So
(04:35):
each time I ride off to various politicians in Wellington
and beyond, they all condex so what a great idea.
But we can't help you today. But this election you
might be a bit more useful. But we don't hold your.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Bread yet Now the pub down there at the South
Seas Hotel turned one hundred years old.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, so that's been a bit of a celebration weekend
because we like celebrations and it's another reason to get
the community moving and doing things. And they've been insisting
with part of the anniversary arrangements. There's lots and lots
of photographs come out, and they've had a scavenger hunt
just to get people motivated and that looked pretty successful.
(05:16):
Lot of fun and of course that all culminated on
the Sunday night for quiz Night, so they have prizes
for all those things. But a great fun day or
fun weekend, and I expect the photographs are still there
for a few days yets. So a lot of memories
to be to come forward just to remind people of
(05:37):
those that have been here before. And we did get
a lot of versus out of it, so that's been
part of the encouraging bonus.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
You do hear a lot about this quiz nice it's
almost gone down as infamous.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Well it is, yes, and we've had lots of occasions
and different quiz masters and of course the bigger one
was when Prince Harry was here and all the security team.
That was a massive night. So that's been a major
part of the publicity. And would you believe it there
were fifty security people on scene by that night. Yeah.
(06:11):
I didn't think it was that bad, but somebody else did.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
I think he's pretty it's pretty sedate down of Steward Island.
Fifty fifty starts a bit of overkill, wouldn't you suggest.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Well, there was a few all sorts of cops talking
into the sleeve and they probably had a nice weekend
out of it on that occasion. But of course it
carries on. That's quite a wee while ago now and
we have lots of people from far and wide that
have heard about quiz and they just keep turning up
on Someday night. They're all getting into the pub early,
so you get the table and it's a great nightea.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Now the South Island South Island Stewart Island Players Group
Repertory Society is such. I suppose sounds like there's something
occurring there.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, we've got an amateur playing group that put on
a show over now and then, and that's progressed over
time for about the last soon thirty forty years. I
suppose and we keep replacing those young new people and
they are going to show coming up. Offen. Can't tell
you what the show has prn me, but they've been
(07:15):
in practice in the meantime and I won't be part
of it. I'll have to be a spectator, which would
certainly just find But it's great fun, keeps everybody out
there and increases the confidence and their public speaking and
the performance on stage. That's a great event for the
community as well.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
And just finally, Bruce, because time is the year since
the doctor service or the health service of Stuart Island.
What's happening there?
Speaker 1 (07:43):
In recent times we've been short of a GP service
and the Luff Medical Center have recently introduced once a
month service to bring a doctor over to go around
the customers here. And of course we say we're our
up for a month at a time, and the local
nurses clinic here will cater for that. We do have
(08:06):
nurses here all the time that are very very good
and handle most of our ailments. But that's a new
service and we're very pleased about that because it does
save a lot of money for a lot of people
that not having to buy a ticket to town and
the consequent costs that go with that. So the doctor
has one cost and we just pay them at the door.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Here. No good to hear Bruce. Always good to catch
up on the muster to see what's happening at the
deep south of New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Churely good, thank you any.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Bruce Ford based down at Stuart Island. This is the
muster either pringles up next to young farmers,
We love me. Yes.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yet we're away down to Stuart Island this afternoon on
the musk, catching up with our correspondent down those ways,
Bruce Ford, former South Industric councilor these days resides on
the at the island at the bottom of New Zealand. Bruce, Good, afternoon.
Do you get frustrated when people called the need in
the Deep South?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Sometimes we do, you, but of course we usually try
and refute that it's we get off better than lots
of other places. You know, Denise, you've got flounds and
all swat things at the moments, and you know they
have our sympathy that for all us we don't get
flood so much. It's about six degrees at the moment.
We're awey bit climate controlled here.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, talking about the climate. How's it be over? Winter
has been cooler than usual or a bit more mild?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Wow, it's only just this last few days that it's
the coldshead us a lieve bit and it's been very mild.
The lots of the stuff in the garden there's roses
and currents all got buds on them, and you know
it's we've been able to kill them. But I suppose
that's climate change will be ready for ectonelic fountains anytime.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Everything's just a little bit out of whack at the
moment you reckon.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Well, I think everywhere everybody's having a different season bus
out of it.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, for sure. Now the big issue down there has
been regarding the price of electricity, the sol of farmers
on the horizon. What's happening around this.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I know the the ben a grant from our government
to established the solar farm, and that's being on the
competed on the road to the Estrap former gun Sight
or rather former gun clubs site where a lot of
people around south and won't be familiar with. And it's
(02:06):
all cleared off now. The contractors have been peered or
a bush off it and supposedly it'll be operating by January.
So there's quite a lot of work to do yet,
but certainly the site it's all nicely cleared and we'll
be very pleased about that because the electricity currently has
been changed out at ninety three cents per unit, which
(02:27):
is at least three four times more than what you
people might be paying.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
So it's fair to say this will be a game
changer for electricity on the island.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Well, it's certainly going to help. And of course we
skimp all the electricty we use. It's only lights and fringes,
so it's not as if you have water heating and
electric stves and things. So we still have you know,
we've got the LPG and cold ranges and likes. But
certainly it'll be a big help. But I'm suspecting that
(02:57):
people will just use a bit for electricity. It may
not change the total bills but will be a bit
easy to get on with.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Now we spoke to you last time the task ceiling
was going on around the island. This is all be completed.
I understand, yep.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
It's taking them for six weeks or so to complete,
and the contractor has done all that. It's all looking
pretty tidy in We get that about every fifteen years
or so, and they because our loadings are not as
great as they are on the other side with eavy
trucks and things, we make it last a bit longer.
So it's all tidied up now, or it's been remarked.
(03:34):
And I'm very conscious now that the parking tickets and
any road rules are We breached the copper on his
toes and it could well be some tickets around.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Do you get parking tickets down there?
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Oh, yes we do. And there's no point having complacency
if you're driving around here, because the first thing that's
happened to you go to the other side and you
get caught for doing something you shouldn't have and of
course it could be worse than that, you could have
an accident.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Now, as far as senior cottages, this is something that's
been on the horizon for a while for the elderly
members of your community and fundraising to get new digs.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Yes, there's been on the agenda for many many well
quite a long time now, and it's been a pet
of mine. And of course it's been such that we
have a trustet up and we've bought some land and
we have all the fans have drawn up. We've been
fundraising for that. We've got about one point three million
lined up. We need a couple of million overall. So
(04:35):
each time I ride off to various politicians in Wellington
and beyond, they all condex so what a great idea.
But we can't help you today. But this election you
might be a bit more useful. But we don't hold your.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Bread yet Now the pub down there at the South
Seas Hotel turned one hundred years old.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, so that's been a bit of a celebration weekend
because we like celebrations and it's another reason to get
the community moving and doing things. And they've been insisting
with part of the anniversary arrangements. There's lots and lots
of photographs come out, and they've had a scavenger hunt
just to get people motivated and that looked pretty successful.
(05:16):
Lot of fun and of course that all culminated on
the Sunday night for quiz Night, so they have prizes
for all those things. But a great fun day or
fun weekend, and I expect the photographs are still there
for a few days yets. So a lot of memories
to be to come forward just to remind people of
(05:37):
those that have been here before. And we did get
a lot of versus out of it, so that's been
part of the encouraging bonus.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
You do hear a lot about this quiz nice it's
almost gone down as infamous.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Well it is, yes, and we've had lots of occasions
and different quiz masters and of course the bigger one
was when Prince Harry was here and all the security team.
That was a massive night. So that's been a major
part of the publicity. And would you believe it there
were fifty security people on scene by that night. Yeah.
(06:11):
I didn't think it was that bad, but somebody else did.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
I think he's pretty it's pretty sedate down of Steward Island.
Fifty fifty starts a bit of overkill, wouldn't you suggest.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Well, there was a few all sorts of cops talking
into the sleeve and they probably had a nice weekend
out of it on that occasion. But of course it
carries on. That's quite a wee while ago now and
we have lots of people from far and wide that
have heard about quiz and they just keep turning up
on Someday night. They're all getting into the pub early,
so you get the table and it's a great nightea.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Now the South Island South Island Stewart Island Players Group
Repertory Society is such. I suppose sounds like there's something
occurring there.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, we've got an amateur playing group that put on
a show over now and then, and that's progressed over
time for about the last soon thirty forty years. I
suppose and we keep replacing those young new people and
they are going to show coming up. Offen. Can't tell
you what the show has prn me, but they've been
(07:15):
in practice in the meantime and I won't be part
of it. I'll have to be a spectator, which would
certainly just find But it's great fun, keeps everybody out
there and increases the confidence and their public speaking and
the performance on stage. That's a great event for the
community as well.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
And just finally, Bruce, because time is the year since
the doctor service or the health service of Stuart Island.
What's happening there?
Speaker 1 (07:43):
In recent times we've been short of a GP service
and the Luff Medical Center have recently introduced once a
month service to bring a doctor over to go around
the customers here. And of course we say we're our
up for a month at a time, and the local
nurses clinic here will cater for that. We do have
(08:06):
nurses here all the time that are very very good
and handle most of our ailments. But that's a new
service and we're very pleased about that because it does
save a lot of money for a lot of people
that not having to buy a ticket to town and
the consequent costs that go with that. So the doctor
has one cost and we just pay them at the door.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Here. No good to hear Bruce. Always good to catch
up on the muster to see what's happening at the
deep south of New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Churely good, thank you any.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Bruce Ford based down at Stuart Island. This is the
muster either pringles up next to young farmers,
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