Phil Keoghan: I WAS BORN HERE IN NEW ZEALAND
AND HAVE BEEN CRISSCROSSING MY WAY AROUND THE WORLD
FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
I’VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO TRAVEL MILLIONS OF MILES
AND VISIT MORE THAN A HUNDRED COUNTRIES.
I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THE BEST PART OF EXPLORING OUR WORLD
IS NOT JUST SEEING THE INCREDIBLE PLACES...
BUT ALSO MEETING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE...
CAPTIVATING CHARACTERS WHO EPITOMIZE
WHAT THEIR COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT.
[TIRES SQUEALING]
I’M TAKING OFF ON AN AERIAL ADVENTURE...
SOARING ABOVE NEW ZEALAND’S SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPE.
AND THEN DROPPING IN
TO MEET SOME GROUNDBREAKING, INNOVATIVE NEW ZEALANDERS
ALONG THE WAY.
PEOPLE LIKE THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR
OF "THE LORD OF THE RINGS"
WHO HAS A PASSION FOR WORLD WAR I AIRCRAFT.
♪
AN ECCENTRIC ENTREPRENEUR
WHO’S TRANSFORMED THIS PIECE OF NEW ZEALAND
INTO A MASSIVE SCULPTURE GARDEN.
THAT TAKES VISION.
Man: NO, IT TAKES STUPIDITY. [LAUGHS]
AND STUPIDITY IS FUN.
Phil: AND LEGENDARY TWIN SISTERS
WHO DISH UP COMEDY, MUSIC AND CONTROVERSY
FOR THEIR DEVOTED KIWI FANS.
Woman: ANYWHERE ELSE, WE’D PROBABLY BE IN JAIL.
[LAUGHTER]
♪
[AIRPLANE PASSES]
♪
[AIRPLANE PASSES]
♪
Phil: NEW ZEALAND IS THE LAST HABITABLE PLACE ON EARTH
TO BE POPULATED.
MADE UP OF TWO MAIN ISLANDS, IT’S A REMOTE COUNTRY
ABOUT THE SIZE OF COLORADO,
LOST IN TIME FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.
BUT THAT ALL CHANGED OVERNIGHT
WHEN THEY WERE SUDDENLY PROJECTED ON MOVIE SCREENS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE
THESE INCREDIBLE LANDSCAPES IMMORTALIZED
IN THE "LORD OF THE RINGS" BLOCKBUSTER MOVIES.
THESE ICONIC LOCATIONS REALLY PUT NEW ZEALAND
INTO THE LIMELIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BELOW US IS NEW ZEALAND’S NUMBER ONE TOURIST ATTRACTION.
♪
A TOWN ALLEGEDLY BUILT BY HOBBITS!
IN FACT, THE SHIRE OF HOBBITON-- UP HERE IN THE NORTH ISLAND--
WAS CREATED BY A MAN WHO LIVES DOWN HERE, 200 MILES AWAY...
IN THE PICTURESQUE CAPITAL CITY OF WELLINGTON.
♪
[BELL DINGING]
A CITY OFTEN REFERRED TO AS WELLYWOOD
AND HOME TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE "LORD OF THE RINGS" MOVIES,
PETER JACKSON.
Peter Jackson: THE GENERATION I’M FROM
DIDN’T GET WIRED FOR COMPUTERS, UNFORTUNATELY.
WE WERE BORN WITH THIS WIRING.
THIS IS WHAT WE WERE BORN WITH HERE.
[LAUGHS]
Phil: WHICH IS NOT BAD.
JACKSON TURNED NEW ZEALAND INTO MIDDLE EARTH
FOR MILLIONS OF MOVIE FANS,
BUT THIS IS WHERE HE’S TRULY AT HOME,
HIS VINTAGE AVIATION WORKSHOP.
Phil: YOU’RE A VISIONARY, BUT, I MEAN, THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY.
Peter: YEAH, THIS IS WHAT I HOPED WE WOULD END UP WITH.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I HOPED WE WOULD END UP WITH.
EVER SINCE I WAS A KID
I WAS HOPING I WOULD GET TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR SURE.
I WOULD HOPE.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR,
AND GROWING UP I WAS ALWAYS TOLD STORIES
ABOUT THE FIRST WORLD WAR,
AND THEN MY DAD TOOK ME TO SEE A MOVIE CALLED "THE BLUE MAX"
THAT’S GOT A LOT OF DOGFIGHTING.
Phil: WHICH YOU LIKED.
Peter: YEAH, AND THAT WAS REALLY THE THING
THAT SPARKED MY INTEREST IN AVIATION.
AND THEN I STARTED GETTING MODEL KIT SETS,
USED TO GLUE THOSE TOGETHER, USED TO SHOOT LITTLE FILMS.
Phil: OH, OKAY.
Peter: AND I USED TO SORT OF, I USED TO BUILD THESE MODELS,
SET THEM ON FIRE,
AND THEN SORT OF FILM THEM AS THEY’RE CRASHING,
AS THEY’RE GOING THROUGH THE AIR WITH THE FLAMES COMING OUT.
Phil: JACKSON’S TEAM BUILDS AND SELLS WORLD WAR I PLANES
TO PRIVATE COLLECTORS AND MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD.
EVERY PIECE IS BUILT TO THE EXACT STANDARDS
OF THE ORIGINALS THAT FLEW 100 YEARS AGO.
Phil: A QUICK LOOK IN HERE?
Peter: YEAH, YEAH, THIS IS A BRITISH ENGINE,
A BENTLEY, WHICH WE ARE ALSO MAKING FROM SCRATCH.
IF I WASN’T MAKING MOVIES
I WOULD BE PERFECTLY HAPPY TO WORK HERE.
Phil: IF THINGS DRY UP FOR YOU?
Peter: DRY UP, I MEAN, THEN, THEN I KNOW WHERE TO COME.
Phil: PETER IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT PLANES,
HE’S AMASSED THE LARGEST COLLECTION
OF WORLD WAR I AIRCRAFT IN THE WORLD.
20 YEARS AGO HE COMBINED HIS LOVE OF AVIATION AND FILMMAKING
TO TELL THE STORY OF NEW ZEALANDER RICHARD PEARSE,
WHO SOME CLAIM FLEW
NINE MONTHS BEFORE THE WRIGHT BROTHERS DID IN 1903.
PRETENDING TO SOLVE ONE OF AVIATION’S GREATEST MYSTERIES,
JACKSON DIRECTED A MOCKUMENTARY,
A CONVINCING SPOOF CALLED "FORGOTTEN SILVER,"
THAT DEPICTS THE FICTIONAL DISCOVERY OF OLD FILMS
WITH EVIDENCE THAT PEARSE WAS THE FIRST TO FLY.
I LOVE THE STORY,
AND I LOVE THAT WE DON’T REALLY KNOW WHEN HE FLEW.
Peter: NO, I DON’T THINK, WE PROBABLY
WILL NEVER, EVER KNOW WHEN HE FLEW NOW.
Phil: I THINK, BUT SOMEBODY UNCOVERED
SOME OLD FOOTAGE, I THINK.
Film narrator: FOUND AMONG THE FILMS
WAS AN ASTOUNDING CINEMATIC RECORD.
RICHARD PEARSE, A FARMER FROM NEW ZEALAND,
HAD BEATEN THE WRIGHT BROTHERS INTO THE AIR BY NINE MONTHS.
Phil: WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO REWRITE SOME HISTORY, I THINK.
Peter: YEAH.
Phil: WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIX THAT.
PEARSE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEATEN THE WRIGHT BROTHERS,
BUT HE WAS, WITHOUT DOUBT, A TRUE PIONEER.
HE TOOK TO THE SKIES
IN THIS SIMPLISTIC MICROLIGHT-TYPE MACHINE--
ESSENTIALLY A FLYING BICYCLE--
A FAR CRY FROM THE PLANES THAT FLEW DURING WORLD WAR I,
WHICH EXPERIENCED THE FASTEST ACCELERATION OF TECHNOLOGY EVER.
Peter: NO ONE HAD SEEN A MAN FLYING IN THE SKY
UNTIL 11 YEARS EARLIER.
’CAUSE IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MACHINES,
IT’S ABOUT THE MEN THAT WERE INSIDE THEM.
THEY MUST HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY BRAVE.
♪
Phil: PETER HAS MADE IT ONE OF HIS MISSIONS
TO NEVER LET US FORGET THE BRAVE MEN,
INCLUDING HIS GRANDFATHER,
WHO TRAVELED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE MOTHER ENGLAND.
WORLD WAR I GAVE THIS COUNTRY AN IDENTITY,
INCLUDING THE NICKNAME KIWI,
A RARE FLIGHTLESS NOCTURNAL NATIVE BIRD
THAT WAS USED AS A SYMBOL ON MILITARY UNIFORMS.
♪
WE’VE TRAVELED ABOUT 300 MILES NORTH--
THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE NORTH ISLAND--
OVER THE VOLCANIC PLATEAU AND THE DAIRY FARMS OF WAIKATO
TO NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST CITY, AUCKLAND...
♪
HOME TO ABOUT 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE.
THERE ARE MORE SAILBOATS PER CAPITA HERE
THAN ANYWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.
♪
I’M JUMPING ON BOARD THIS AMERICA’S CUP BOAT
TO CATCH UP WITH TWO
OF NEW ZEALAND’S FAVORITE CELEBRITIES.
A WELL-KNOWN SAMOAN COMEDIAN
AND A FORMER PROFESSIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE LEGEND,
TAWERA NIKAU,
WHO IS ONE OF NEW ZEALAND’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, THE MAORI.
Oscar Kightley: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE BEEN SAILING.
IT’S HILARIOUS.
Phil: ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Oscar: AUCKLAND’S CALLED THE CITY OF SAILS,
BUT THIS IS FIRST TIME I’VE BEEN ON A SAILBOAT.
WE’RE A LAND OF IMMIGRANTS.
Phil: WE REALLY ARE, AREN’T WE?
Oscar: EXCEPT FOR TAWERA’S PEOPLE.
THEY IMMIGRATED AGES AGO.
Phil: YEAH, YOUR PEOPLE CAME FIRST.
Tawera: WE WERE THE FIRST ONES,
NAVIGATED ALL THE WAY HERE FROM WAKA, FROM HAWAIKI.
Phil: THE MAORI, NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST SETTLERS,
TRAVELED THOUSANDS OF MILES ACROSS THE PACIFIC
IN OPEN CANOES,
REMARKABLE VOYAGES THAT ARE RECOGNIZED
AMONG THE MOST IMPRESSIVE IN HUMAN HISTORY.
Tawera: YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
ABOUT CULTURE BEING UNIQUE ABOUT NEW ZEALANDERS
IS WE HAVE A REAL PROUD MAORI CULTURAL HISTORY.
Phil: EVERY TIME THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM,
KNOWN AS THE ALL BLACKS, PLAYS A GAME,
THEY PERFORM A MAORI WAR DANCE CALLED THE HAKA
TO INTIMIDATE THE OPPOSITION.
Tawera: THE HAKA IS KNOWN ALL AROUND THE WORLD,
AND EVERY TIME YOU SEE THE ALL BLACKS,
THEY PERFORM THAT HAKA, THAT’S UNIQUELY NEW ZEALAND.
Phil: THE ALL BLACKS ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
NATIONAL SPORTS TEAM IN HISTORY,
WITH A WINNING RECORD OF OVER 75% IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.
Oscar: IT’S GREAT THAT YOU’RE TELLING EVERYONE
HOW GREAT WE ARE, PHIL.
I REMEMBER WHEN "LORD OF THE RINGS"
CLEANED UP AT THE OSCARS
AND THIS SOUND RECORDIST WAS ONE OF THE WINNERS,
AND THEN A WEEK LATER I SAW HIM RUNNING THE MIC
ON THE SIDELINE OF THE RUGBY,
AND I’M LIKE, BRO, YOU WERE AT THE OSCARS LAST WEEK,
YOU WON, AND HE WAS LIKE, "YEAH, I GOT TO WORK, THOUGH."
[LAUGHTER]
Phil: THERE’S AN EXPECTATION IN NEW ZEALAND
FOR HIGH ACHIEVERS TO PLAY DOWN THEIR SUCCESS--
SOMETHING OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD IN PLACES LIKE HOLLYWOOD.
Peter: LOOK, THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT MY, MY AGENT HAS CALLED ME,
I MIGHT BE HERE CUTTING A FILM WE’VE MADE.
AND WARNER BROTHERS ARE CALLING AND SAYING,
WELL, WHAT’S THE CUT LIKE, YOU KNOW,
AND I’D SAY, AH, YEAH, IT’S, YOU KNOW, IT’S OK.
AND THEN HE CALLS ME UP A HALF AN HOUR LATER
AND JUST LIKE, PETER, THEY’RE CONCERNED
BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T THINK THAT YOUR REACTION WAS, YOU KNOW...
Phil: WAS BIG ENOUGH.
Peter: THAT YOU HAD ENOUGH CONFIDENCE--
AND IT’S LIKE NO, IT’S FINE, IT’S ALL GOOD.
I THINK IT’S NICE TO BE THE WAY WE ARE.
Phil: ALTHOUGH MANY KIWIS AVOID DRAWING ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES,
SOME MAKE SO MUCH NOISE...
[ENGINE ROARING]
THE WORLD CAN’T HELP BUT NOTICE!
I’VE FLOWN DOWN HERE
TO THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.
I’M ABOUT 30 MILES OUTSIDE DUNEDIN RIGHT NOW
TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH EMMA GILMOUR.
[ENGINE REVVING]
SHE’S DEFINITELY BREAKING THE SPEED LIMIT,
THERE’S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT,
AND SHE’S LEAVING US IN HER DUST RIGHT NOW!
EMMA MADE HER FIRST MARK ON THE WORLD STAGE
BY MAKING A LOT OF NOISE.
SHE SURE CAN DRIVE. LOOK AT THAT.
SHE NOT ONLY BECAME THE FASTEST
FEMALE RALLY DRIVER ON THE PLANET,
BUT SHE ALSO BEAT A FIELD OF MEN
TO BECOME THE OVERALL NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPION.
THAT’S HOW A WORLD CHAMPION DRIVES.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
Emma Gilmour: NICE TO MEET YOU.
Phil: UM, CAN WE LEAN UP AGAINST YOUR CAR HERE LIKE THAT?
IS THAT ALRIGHT? [THUMP]
OOPS. OOH, GEEZ.
THAT’S NOT GOOD, I PUT A DENT IN YOUR CAR, DIDN’T I?
Emma: YEAH, YOU DID.
Phil: DID I JUST PUT A DENT IN YOUR CAR?
Emma: YEAH. Phil: CAN YOU PUSH THAT OUT?
Emma: WE’LL PUSH IT OUT. Phil: OKAY, GOOD.
WOMEN IN NEW ZEALAND ARE VERY STRONG;
YOU’RE OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THEM.
I FIGURED YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT.
Emma: I THINK IT’S PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,
GOING BACK TO OUR HERITAGE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO GO OUT AND WORK ON THE FARM
OR HELP WITH THE WHOLE BUILDING NEW ZEALAND UP.
AND I THINK KIWI GIRLS SORT OF HAVE THAT "CAN DO" ATTITUDE,
AND THEY GET OUT THERE AND DO STUFF.
Phil: AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW SPORTS IN THE WORLD
WHERE YOU CAN COMPETE AGAINST MEN,
AND I UNDERSTAND YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE THAT.
Emma: YEAH. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH
I CAME FROM EQUESTRIAN HORSE RIDING,
WHICH IS ALSO ANOTHER SPORT
WHERE MEN AND WOMEN COMPETE EQUALLY.
BUT I THINK I’VE BEEN COMPETING LONG ENOUGH NOW
THAT THE BOYS JUST REGARD ME AS A COMPETITOR.
IF WE’RE GONNA DO SOMETHING, YOU WANT TO DO IT WELL,
AND I THINK THAT BREEDS THE NEXT GENERATION COMING THROUGH
TO SET THEIR GOALS HIGH, TOO.
♪
Phil: OKAY, NO PROBLEM.
NO FOUL, NO HARM.
GEEZ. YOU WERE MAKING ME FEEL NERVOUS THE WHOLE TIME,
I WAS LIKE, OH, NO, I’VE JUST WRECKED A WORLD CHAMPION’S CAR.
[ENGINE REVVING]
THERE SHE GOES, SMOOTH AND AGGRESSIVE.
♪
IN NEW ZEALAND YOU JUST NEVER KNOW
WHAT’S OVER THE HORIZON.
OOH, WOW!
WOULD YOU BELIEVE ME IF I TOLD YOU...
REMOTE-CONTROLLED SHEEP?
YOU DO LOOK A LITTLE MAD RIGHT NOW,
I’M GONNA BE HONEST.
[LAUGHING]
NEW ZEALAND’S DIVERSE AND EXTREME ENVIRONMENT
HAS GIVEN RISE TO THE CREATIVITY, TENACITY
AND RESOURCEFULNESS THAT YOU FIND IN SO MANY OF ITS PEOPLE.
AS RAIN CLOUDS COME ALONG HERE
ALONG THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND,
THEY ARE FORCED UP AND OVER THE SOUTHERN ALPS...
WHICH RUN UP AND DOWN THE SOUTH ISLAND HERE.
AND IT CREATES A RAIN SHADOW ON THIS SIDE,
INCLUDING THIS AREA HERE IN CENTRAL OTAGO,
WHICH IS THE COOLEST, HOTTEST, DRIEST PLACE
IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY-- JUST SPECTACULAR.
THAT’S ALL SCHIST ROCK RIGHT THERE.
[SHEEP BLEATING]
EARLY PIONEERS DISCOVERED THAT THESE DRY TUSSOCK-COVERED HILLS
PROVIDED THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT TO FARM SHEEP,
WHICH QUICKLY BECAME THE MAINSTAY
OF NEW ZEALAND’S ECONOMY.
AND NOW IT’S A WELL-KNOWN FACT THAT IN THIS COUNTRY
SHEEP OUTNUMBER PEOPLE SEVEN TO ONE,
THE HIGHEST RATIO PER CAPITA IN THE WORLD.
THIS IS WHERE ONE SHEEP FARMER,
WHO LOOKS LIKE HE’S ADDICTED TO VIDEO GAMES,
IS IN FACT HARD AT WORK.
[BEEPING]
[SHEEP BLEATING]
YOU DO LOOK A LITTLE MAD RIGHT NOW, I’M GONNA BE HONEST.
Brett Sanders: I DON’T MIND HOW I LOOK AS LONG AS IT GETS THE JOB DONE.
Phil: BRETT SANDERS’ FAMILY
HAS BEEN RUNNING THIS EXPANSIVE SHEEP FARM,
ABOUT 50 SQUARE MILES, FOR FOUR GENERATIONS.
ONE BRUTAL WINTER, BRETT’S SHEEP WERE TRAPPED IN THE SNOW
AFTER A BIG STORM.
FARMERS USUALLY CALL IN HELICOPTERS
TO LIFT THEM TO SAFE GROUND,
BUT THEY WERE ALL BOOKED.
Brett: ALL THE FULL-SIZE HELICOPTERS WERE AWAY
HELPING PEOPLE THAT WERE LESS FORTUNATE THAN US.
I WAS THINKING IF WE HAD
ONE OF THOSE WEE REMOTE CONTROL HELICOPTERS
WITH A CAMERA ON IT,
I’D BE ABLE TO FLY IT OVER THERE AND MAKE SURE THEY WERE SAFE.
Phil: SO, THIS THE ONE YOU’RE USING RIGHT NOW?
Brett: YEAH, SO IT’S BASICALLY A BIG SIREN ON THE BOTTOM.
THERE’S A COUPLE OF CAMERAS ON IT.
IT’S ACTUALLY BROKEN IN HALF,
HELD TOGETHER WITH A RUBBER BAND,
A ZIP-TIE AND A COUPLE OF RUBBER RINGS
OUT OF THE WOOLSHED.
Phil: WAS IT A BIT DISASTROUS IN THE BEGINNING?
Brett: OH, IT WAS TERRIBLE.
[PROPELLERS WHIRRING]
[THUD]
Brett: BOXES AND BOXES OF BROKEN PARTS ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE.
Phil: A LOT OF DUCT TAPE, RUBBER BANDS, ZIP-TIES.
Brett: YEAH. BITS OF ALUMINIUM
BENT INTO SHAPES TO BRACE THINGS.
I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS STUFF.
I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO WORK A GoPRO.
ONCE I LEARNED THAT, I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO PROGRAM RADIOS
AND HOW TO TUNE THE FLIGHT CONTROLLERS AND...
Phil: SO YOU’RE ALL SELF-TAUGHT?
Brett: YES.
Phil: SHEEP HUNTING.
BRETT HAS 2,000 SHEEP SPREAD OUT OVER AN AREA
ABOUT THE SIZE OF 30,000 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
AMAZINGLY BRETT CAN STAND IN ONE SPOT
AND SEE EVERY SQUARE INCH OF IT
USING A DRONE RIGGED WITH A CAMERA
THAT TRANSMITS THE IMAGE TO A HEADSET.
YOUR GRANDFATHER WOULD HAVE, HE WOULD BE TURNING IN HIS GRAVE
IF HE SAW YOU OUT HERE FARMING LIKE THIS.
ARE WE GOOD TO GO?
Brett: YEAH, I THINK SO.
Phil: ALRIGHT.
YOU COULD SET SAIL HERE RIGHT NOW.
Brett: WE’LL HAVE A GO ANYWAY.
[PROPELLERS WHIRRING]
OH, SHE’S A BIT WINDY.
Phil: I FEEL LIKE YOU’VE LEFT ME
AND YOU’VE GONE TO ANOTHER PLACE RIGHT NOW.
Brett: YEAH, I’VE GOT MY ALTITUDE, I’VE GOT A COMPASS,
I’VE GOT THE DISTANCE TO WHERE WE ARE
AND AN ARROW POINTING WHICH WAY WE ARE.
Phil: SO YOU CAN’T SEE ME AT ALL?
Brett: NAH, I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING WHERE I AM.
Phil: ARE YOU STILL FLYING, YOU HAVEN’T CRASHED?
Brett: NO, NOT YET.
OH, THERE THEY GO.
YEP, I SEE THEM STARTING TO MOVE.
[BLEATING]
Phil: BRETT’S DRONE CAN FLY
TO THE FAR-REACHING AREAS OF HIS PROPERTY
IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
A LOUD BEEPING SOUND THEN STARTLES THE SHEEP INTO MOTION.
HE CAN QUICKLY ROUND UP ANY RENEGADE SHEEP
THAT MIGHT BE HIDING IN THE DEEP GULLIES,
AND DO IT ALL FROM THE COMFORT OF HIS FAVORITE ROCK.
Brett: IT’S FUNNY HOW I START LEANING
BECAUSE I THINK I’M IN THE THING.
I GET A BIT OF A WOBBLE ON OCCASIONALLY,
BUT I HAVEN’T FALLEN OFF A ROCK YET.
Phil: OH, LOOK, THERE’S A COUPLE OF STRAY ONES.
Brett: ARE THEY?
Phil: HEY, GUYS, YOUR MATES ARE OVER THERE.
YEAH, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GUYS.
WORKING WITH DOGS, IT USED TO TAKE BRETT ABOUT TWO HOURS
TO BUNCH HIS SHEEP LIKE THIS.
NOW HE CAN DO THE SAME JOB IN 10 MINUTES.
PERFECT. NICE.
Brett: OOPS. [LAUGHING]
SORRY.
Phil: WE WON’T CALL THAT A CRASH.
Brett: WE WON’T CALL THAT A CRASH.
Phil: WE’LL CALL THAT A HARD LANDING.
HARD TO SAY IF BRETT’S INVENTION WILL CHANGE THE WORLD,
BUT KIWI FARMERS ARE WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR GROUND-BREAKING IDEAS.
PEOPLE LIKE SHEEP FARMER BILL HAMILTON,
WHO DESIGNED A BOAT IN THE 1950s
THAT COULD NAVIGATE THE FAST-FLOWING BRAIDED RIVERS
ON HIS FAMILY FARM.
OOH. YOU’RE A LITTLE CLOSE TO THOSE ROCKS, AREN’T YOU, ALFIE?
Alfie: NAH, WE’RE ALL GOOD, MATE.
[ENGINE RUMBLING]
Phil: INSTEAD OF A PROPELLER,
WHICH SITS TOO LOW IN THE WATER AND CAN EASILY STRIKE ROCKS,
HAMILTON’S JET BOAT FORCES WATER OUT THE BACK,
LIKE A GIANT FIRE HOSE,
ALLOWING IT TO SPEED ALONG IN SHALLOW WATER LIKE THIS,
JUST INCHES DEEP.
♪
JET BOATS KICK-STARTED THE ADVENTURE TOURISM INDUSTRY
HERE IN QUEENSTOWN.
TODAY MANY SIMPLY REFER TO THIS AREA
AS THE ADVENTURE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
IF YOU FOLLOW THE KAWARAU RIVER
ABOUT 14 MILES OUT OF QUEENSTOWN,
YOU’LL FIND THE KAWARAU BRIDGE THAT WAS BUILT BACK IN THE 1800s
TO ACCESS GOLD FIELDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.
GOLD DIGGERS COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED THIS.
[MAN SHOUTING]
PEOPLE JUMPING OFF THIS PERFECTLY SAFE BRIDGE.
ONE OF THE PIONEERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS LEAP OF FAITH
IS VISIONARY ADVENTURE CRAZY MAN HENRY VAN ASCH.
I MET HENRY 30 YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS NEW ZEALAND’S
DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKE AND SPEED SKIING CHAMPION.
HENRY SUGGESTED WE CATCH UP
BY GETTING HIGH IN A HOT AIR BALLOON,
WHICH OFFERS STUNNING VIEWS OF HIS FAVORITE PLACE ON EARTH--
QUEENSTOWN.
A MAN WHO LOVES SPEED, ADVENTURE,
AND YOU ENDED UP HERE.
Henry: YEAH, I ENDED UP HERE,
AND I ENDED UP DOING BUNGEE AS WELL,
WHICH IS A MIXTURE OF ALL OF THE ABOVE.
Phil: HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO ATTACH PEOPLE TO A RUBBER BAND
AND SAY HEY, WHY DON’T YOU JUST LEAP OFF A PERFECTLY SAFE BRIDGE
AND, UH, ENJOY THE THRILL OF FEELING LIKE YOU’RE GONNA DIE?
Henry: THE MAIN PERPETRATOR IN THAT WAS A.J. HACKETT.
Phil: SHARING A LOVE OF LIFE ON THE EDGE,
HENRY AND HIS FRIEND A.J. HACKETT
TRAVELED TO VANUATU,
MORE THAN A THOUSAND MILES NORTH OF NEW ZEALAND
IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC,
WHERE THEY WITNESSED AN ANCIENT RITUAL,
INSPIRING THEM TO GIVE IT A GO BUT WITH A MODERN TWIST.
THERE WAS A BIG PUBLICITY STUNT THAT YOU GUYS DID,
JUST TO GET IT GOING, AN ILLEGAL LEAP.
Henry: IT WAS NOT STRICTLY ILLEGAL,
BUT A.J. CARRIED ON AND DID THAT JUMP OFF THE EIFFEL TOWER
BACK IN ’86.
A.J. ACTUALLY MET THIS BEAUTIFUL FRENCH MODEL.
Phil: OKAY.
Henry: THE OTHER PART OF THE STORY
IS THAT HE WAS REALLY TRYING TO IMPRESS CAROLINE.
Phil: A.J.’S JUMP MADE HEADLINES AROUND THE WORLD
AND AFTER A FEW MORE LESS-THAN-LEGAL JUMPS,
COMMERCIAL BUNGEE JUMPING TOOK OFF HERE IN 1988,
AND SOON IT WAS AS IF EVERYONE WAS DOING IT.
[SHOUTING]
THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL WORLD RECORD JUMP
THAT I DID WITH HENRY BACK IN THE 1990s.
Henry: BUNGEE’S GREAT, BECAUSE WE REALIZED
THAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THIS TRANSFORMATION
OF GOING FROM JUST BEING A BIT SCARED OR REALLY SCARED
TO BEING JUST ELATED.
Phil: A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY
THAT WHEN YOU TAKE A BIG MENTAL LEAP LIKE THAT--
’CAUSE IT REALLY IS,
IT’S SO MUCH MORE MENTAL THAN IT IS PHYSICAL, RIGHT--
THAT SOMEHOW IT OPENS THEM UP TO OTHER POSSIBILITIES IN LIFE.
Henry: SO OUR MOTIVATION WAS TO GET MORE PEOPLE DOING BUNGEE,
GETTING PEOPLE TO PUSH THEIR LIMITS
AND DO THINGS WHICH THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO.
THAT WAS A BIG MOTIVATION FOR US.
THIS IS GREAT, I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE’RE HERE IN THIS BALLOON,
YOU LEAVE SOMEWHERE,
AND THEN YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO GO.
THIS IS REALLY, THIS IS A REAL GOOD PIECE OF ADVENTURE.
Phil: A BIT LIKE YOUR LIFE, REALLY!
[LAUGHTER]
IF YOU LET THE WIND CARRY YOU ABOUT 170 MILES NORTH,
ALONG THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS,
YOU’LL FIND COMEDIC IDENTICAL TWIN SISTERS
WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES.
Ken: OH, HELLO, LADIES.
[LAUGHING]
Phil: WE’VE TRAVELED UP HERE TO THE CANTERBURY PLAINS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SOUTH ISLAND
CLOSE TO CHRISTCHURCH.
THIS IS THE FLATTEST AREA IN THE COUNTRY.
THESE PLAINS WERE FORMED OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS
BY DISTINCTIVE BRAIDED RIVERS LIKE THIS
THAT SPREAD ALLUVIAL GRAVEL FROM THE MOUNTAINS
ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.
WE’RE RIGHT AT THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS,
AND WE’RE HEADING TOWARDS A SMALL TOWN CALLED STAVELEY.
THAT’S WHERE NEW ZEALAND’S TOPP TWINS LIVE,
LYNDA AND JOOLS.
WAIT TILL YOU MEET THEM.
Jools Topp: ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!
♪
Phil: THE TOPP TWINS ARE A FOLK SINGING COMEDY DUO
THAT HAVE BEEN A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN NEW ZEALAND
FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
THE TWIN SISTERS ARE ALSO ACTIVISTS
AND TAKE PRIDE IN BEING ON THE FRONT LINE
TO SUCCESSFULLY BRING ABOUT CHANGE--
PROTESTS THAT HELPED PASS THE HOMOSEXUAL LAW REFORM BILL
AS WELL AS THE 1989 ARMS CONTROL ACT
DECLARING NEW ZEALAND 100% NUCLEAR FREE.
Lynda Topp: WE COULD ONLY HAVE DONE IT IN NEW ZEALAND.
Phil: YEAH.
Lynda: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF RADICAL LESBIANS, YOU KNOW,
WHO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A VOICE ABOUT EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, NOW...
Jools: ANYWHERE ELSE WE’D PROBABLY BE IN JAIL.
HA HA HA!
Phil: BUT HERE IN NEW ZEALAND YOU’RE FREE.
LET’S NOT FORGET THAT NEW ZEALAND
GAVE WOMEN THE VOTE FIRST.
Lynda: THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
Jools: THEY WERE TOO SCARED NOT TO.
Phil: YEAH. [LAUGHTER]
THE TWINS JUST LOVE ENTERTAINING
AND INVITED SOME OF THEIR VERY, VERY CLOSEST FRIENDS
OVER TO MEET US.
IS THIS KEN AND KEN RIGHT HERE?
Lynda: KEN AND KEN ARE COMING, THEY’RE HERE.
Phil: I’LL GET ’EM, I’LL GET ’EM.
Jools: YEAH, THAT’S KEN, YEAH. [LAUGHTER]
THEY’RE QUINTESSENTIAL KIWIS, THOSE BOYS.
Ken: G’DAY, YOUNG FELLA. Phil: GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Ken: HOW ARE YOU? G’DAY, TWINS.
Jools: THEY’LL GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF THEIR BACK.
Ken: EVERYBODY’S HERE, EH?
Jools: YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THAT, THOUGH.
Phil: JUST HAVE A SEAT, JUST HAVE A SEAT OVER THERE.
WE, UH, WE’VE GOT YOUR FAVORITE BEERS.
Ken: OH, GOOD ON YA, BUDDY.
Phil: HOW DID YOU MEET THE TWINS?
Ken: ONE NIGHT WE WERE IN A LESBIAN CLUB.
Lynda: THEY’RE EDGY KIND OF GUYS.
Ken: WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT A RUGBY DO,
AND WE WENT TO THE WRONG VENUE.
[KNOCK ON DOOR] Phil: AND WHO’S THAT OVER THERE?
Lynda: CAMP MOTHER AND CAMP LEADER ARE HERE.
Phil: STAY THERE, I’LL GET IT.
Ken: THEY LOOK SO HARD. UH, HELLO, LADIES.
Phil: LOVELY TO SEE YOU.
AND KEN AND KEN ARE HERE.
Camp Mother: HERE’S THE TWINNIES, HELLO.
[GIGGLING]
LOOK, AND I’VE BROUGHT A PLATE.
Phil: YOU BROUGHT A PLATE?
Camp Mother: YES, THAT’S SOMETHING YOU DO IN NEW ZEALAND.
Lynda: CAMP MOTHER AND CAMP LEADER, YOU KNOW,
RUN CAMPING GROUNDS IN NEW ZEALAND.
Camp Leader: I’M NOT TOO SHY TO SAY
THAT I CAN CLEAN A TOILET.
SOMEONE’S GOT TO DO IT.
Phil: AND YOU DO IT. Camp Leader: I DO IT.
Camp Mother: A CAMP LEADER HAS TO DO IT.
Phil: YEAH. IS THAT THE KIWI ATTITUDE? YOU GIVE IT A GO?
Camp Leader: TRY NOT TO FALL OVER IN THE FIRST PLACE...
BUT IF YOU DO, GET UP.
Phil: YOU GET UP AND KEEP GOING.
Camp Mother: LOOK, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE WORLD,
THEY DON’T KNOW ABOUT NEW ZEALAND.
Ken: YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CRAWL INTO A PUB,
A LOCAL PUB HERE IN NEW ZEALAND AND HAVE A DRINK WITH A LOCAL.
THAT WOULD BE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
Phil: HERE’S TO NEW ZEALAND.
All: HERE’S TO NEW ZEALAND!
[CHEERING]
[LAUGHTER]
Ken: CELEBRATION!
THIS COULD GO VIRAL!
[LAUGHTER]
♪
Phil: AFTER RAISING A GLASS WITH SOME LOCAL LEGENDS,
I’M OFF TO SHARE A BOTTLE OF WINE
WITH AN INTERNATIONAL MOVIE STAR
AS OUR AERIAL JOURNEY TAKES US
DEEP INTO THE WINE COUNTRY OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.
CENTRAL OTAGO PROVIDES IDEAL MINERAL-RICH SOILS
AS WELL AS SIMILAR TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
TO THE WORLD’S BEST WINE-GROWING REGIONS.
THE FICKLE PINOT NOIR GRAPE FROM FRANCE’S BURGUNDY REGION
THRIVES HERE IN CENTRAL OTAGO--
THIS HAPPENS TO BE
THE SOUTHERNMOST WINE-GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD
AND A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR
TO THIS COUNTRY’S $1.5 BILLION WINE INDUSTRY.
THIS IS WHERE YOU’LL FIND A FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD ACTOR
WHO LIVES HERE ON HIS VINEYARD, TWO PADDOCKS.
Sam Neill: IT’S A KIND OF WEATHER VANE.
IF I SWING IT, I DON’T KNOW,
IT MIGHT JUST TAKE YOUR HEAD OFF THERE.
Phil: THIS ISN’T A CHARACTER
FROM ONE OF SPIELBERG’S SCI-FI FILMS.
IT’S SAM NEILL PLAYING HIS REAL-LIFE ROLE OF WINEMAKER,
A STARK CONTRAST TO SAM’S FAMED WORK
ON MOVIES LIKE "JURASSIC PARK," "HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER,"
"THE PIANO," "PEAKY BLINDERS"
AND KIWI FILM "HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE."
Phil: YOU HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL TROOP HERE.
Sam: WE ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE FROM CHILE AND ARGENTINA.
THERE’S ALWAYS SOME FRENCH.
SO WE’VE HAD SOME PEOPLE FROM BURGUNDY.
AND OF COURSE BURGUNDY IS WHERE PINOT NOIR COMES FROM,
THIS IS WHAT WE’RE GROWING HERE.
PINOT NOIR IS A VERY THIN-SKINNED GRAPE,
SO YOU WANT TO GROW IT IN A COOL CLIMATE,
SO THAT IT RIPENS SLOWLY.
THERE ARE VERY FEW SWEET SPOTS FOR PINOT IN THE WORLD.
Phil: AND WHERE DID YOUR PASSION FOR THE WINE COME FROM?
Sam: I THINK IT’S MY FAMILY.
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN
THE FIFTH GENERATION WINE AND SPIRITS MERCHANT,
BUT I TURNED OUT TO BE AN ACTOR INSTEAD.
Phil: OKAY.
Phil: SAM’S NOT THE ONLY STAR LIVING HERE.
HE OFTEN SHARES THE LIMELIGHT WITH HIS PET PIG, ANGELICA,
WHO’S ACTUALLY A MALE, AND STARS IN SAM’S HOME MOVIES.
Sam: DO YOU WANT TO MEET THE PIG?
Phil: I’D LOVE TO MEET THE PIG.
Sam: LET’S GO AND MEET THE PIG.
I’VE PICKED ENOUGH GRAPES TODAY.
THAT’S AT LEAST HALF A BUCKET.
HELLO.
YOU DON’T PUT A PIG INTO A BEAUTY CONTEST.
PARTICULARLY YOU, YOU, YOU RAT-BAG.
HE WAS MARRIED FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
HAD A NICE GINGER GIRLFRIEND THAT WAS EVEN UGLIER THAN HIM.
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
Phil: HE JUST HAS ONE OF THOSE FACES
THAT YOU LOOK AT AND YOU JUST WANT TO LAUGH.
Sam: YEAH.
Phil: SAM ESTABLISHED HIS ORGANIC VINEYARD IN 1993,
CONTRIBUTING TO NEW ZEALAND’S LARGEST HORTICULTURAL EXPORT,
WINE.
Sam: THIS IS ALWAYS VERY HIGHLY RATED, THIS WINE.
WINS TROPHIES.
SO THIS IS 2013, SO IT’S A PRETTY ROBUST YEAR.
Phil: WHY DO PEOPLE SWIRL THE WINE LIKE THIS?
Sam: IT’S A LIVING THING, WINE.
IT DEMANDS OXYGEN.
Phil: YES.
WE DON’T HAVE TO SPIT IT OUT, DO WE, SAM?
Sam: YOU CAN IF YOU WANT. IT’S EARLY IN THE MORNING.
Phil: YES.
Sam: PRETTY DAMN GOOD.
Phil: I ACTUALLY BROUGHT THIS LETTER HERE, SAM,
THAT YOU WROTE TO ME.
Sam: WOW.
Phil: 23 YEARS AGO YOU WROTE ME THIS LETTER.
Sam: DID I? Phil: YEAH.
I SAID I WAS THINKING ABOUT GOING OVERSEAS...
Sam: YEAH.
Phil: AND I WANTED YOUR ADVICE.
Sam: YES?
Phil: AND, UH, BASICALLY, YOUR ADVICE TO ME
WAS TO GET OUT THERE AND GIVE IT A GO.
Sam: HAVE A CRACK. Phil: YEAH, HAVE A CRACK.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK YOU, YOU SAID THAT.
YEAH, YOU SAID THE WORD "CRACK," YOU SAID.
Sam: [LAUGHS] YEAH.
Phil: SO I TOOK YOUR ADVICE... Sam: ALRIGHT.
Phil: AND THEN YOU FINISHED WITH,
"MAYBE I’LL RUN INTO YOU SOMETIME,"
SO HERE WE ARE 23 YEARS LATER.
BUT THAT IS YOUR WRITING, ISN’T IT, SAM?
Sam: IT IS MY WRITING. Phil: OKAY, GOOD.
I’D LOVE TO END WITH A TOAST.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US...
Sam: THANK YOU, PHIL.
Phil: AND TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR WONDERFUL PINOT.
[CLINK]
Sam: CHEERS.
Phil: I’M ALWAYS GONNA BE THANKFUL TO SAM NEILL
FOR ENCOURAGING ME TO GET OUT INTO THE WORLD
AND GIVE IT A GO,
BUT I ALWAYS FIND MYSELF DRAWN BACK
TO MY HOMETOWN OF CHRISTCHURCH.
THIS IS WHERE I WAS BORN--
THE BIGGEST CITY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND
HERE ON THE EAST COAST.
JUST DOWN THERE IS ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE,
WHERE I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL.
EARLY SETTLERS BUILT CHRISTCHURCH
TO REPLICATE THE LOOK AND FEEL OF ENGLAND,
EARNING THE NICKNAME THE GARDEN CITY.
TODAY THIS CITY IS ALSO FAMOUS FOR ITS INCREDIBLE STREET ART
THAT CAME TO LIFE IN 2011,
AFTER MY BELOVED HOMETOWN EXPERIENCED A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
[RUMBLING]
ON FEBRUARY 22nd, I HEADED HOME
AFTER A MAGNITUDE 6.3 QUAKE DESTROYED 80% OF THE CITY
AND TOOK THE LIVES OF 185 PEOPLE.
♪
YEAH, IT’S, UH, QUITE EMOTIONAL
TO SEE IT FROM THE AIR LIKE THIS.
THIS IS KNOX CHURCH,
WHERE I WENT EVERY SUNDAY WHEN I WAS AT BOARDING SCHOOL.
TOTALLY DESTROYED.
THE COMMUNITY QUICKLY RALLIED TOGETHER
AS THOUSANDS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CLEANED UP THE STREETS.
RETAILERS SET UP SHOPS USING SHIPPING CONTAINERS,
AND FAMOUS LOCAL STREET GRAFFITI ARTISTS LIKE WONGI WILSON
TRIED TO BRING SOME LIFE BACK TO THE CITY.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR ARTWORK, BECAUSE IT’S MIND-BLOWING.
Wongi Wilson: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, UM, AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE,
THERE WERE SO EMPTY WALLS AND ABANDONED PLACES.
A LOT OF US JUST WENT OUT
AND PAINTED MASSIVE MURALS FOR THE LOVE OF IT.
Phil: DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE ARTWORK
REALLY SORT OF HELPED CHRISTCHURCH
GET BACK ON ITS FEET, JUST LIFT PEOPLE’S SPIRITS?
Wongi: YEAH, WITHOUT A DOUBT, WITHOUT A DOUBT,
I REALLY DO THINK SO.
Phil: KIWIS IN GENERAL--
THEY SEEM TO LAUGH IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.
Wongi: IT’S ALL ABOUT JUST GETTING THINGS DONE
AND GOING THROUGH WITH THINGS.
Phil: WELL, YOU’VE DONE THAT, DRESSED THE CITY UP.
Wongi: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Phil: AND YOU’RE PART OF THAT.
Wongi: YEAH, YEAH. IT’S PRETTY AMAZING.
Phil: WONGI’S AMAZING STREET ART
CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF GEORGE SHAW,
WHO OWNS ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS
OF THE FAMOUS GRAFFITI ARTIST NAMED BANKSY.
George: WHAT I REALLY LOVE IS THAT WE’RE HAVING
A FABULOUS IMPACT ON A CITY THAT REALLY NEEDS IT.
Phil: GEORGE WAS SO INSPIRED
BY THE ART THAT HE SAW AROUND THE CITY,
HE OFFERED ARTISTS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES INDOORS...
HERE AT THE SPECTRUM ART FESTIVAL.
George: SO THIS IS PRODUCED BY THE DTR CREW FROM CHRISTCHURCH,
AND IT’S REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BROKEN-DOWN BUILDINGS
THAT PEOPLE GOT INTO AND PAINTED.
Phil: THIS INSTALLATION UP ON THE WALL HERE
IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING I REMEMBER
WHERE BUILDINGS WERE JUST TORN IN HALF,
AND YOU COULD SEE THE REST OF A BATHROOM JUST HANGING THERE.
George: YEAH.
Phil: GEORGE THEN INVITED 18 OF THE WORLD’S BEST STREET ARTISTS
TO DISPLAY THEIR WORK HERE.
George: SO WE BRING THE BEST STREET ARTISTS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
AND MARRY THEM UP WITH THE BEST ARTISTS FROM NEW ZEALAND,
AND KIWI ARTISTS GET SEEN ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE.
AND IT’S ALL HAPPENED AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE.
PEOPLE HAVE REALIZED HOW AMAZING THE STREET ART SCENE IS
AND WHAT IT CAN DELIVER FOR A CITY,
AND LOTS OF PEOPLE NOW LOOK AT CHRISTCHURCH
AS A STREET ART CITY.
♪
Phil: FLYING HIGH ABOVE THE CANTERBURY PLAINS,
IT LOOKS LIKE A GIANT MOSAIC,
A PATCHWORK WITH EVERY SHADE OF GREEN IMAGINABLE.
THIS WORLD WAR II TIGER MOTH, WHICH CAN FLY LOW AND SLOW,
IS THE PERFECT WAY TO TAKE IT ALL IN,
AS I PEEL OFF TO MEET MY FAVORITE SCIENTIST, MY DAD.
♪
MY PARENTS LIVE JUST A FEW MILES SOUTH
OF THE GARDEN CITY, CHRISTCHURCH,
ON THE CANTERBURY PLAINS.
NEW ZEALANDERS SPEND SO MUCH TIME GARDENING,
IT’S THIS COUNTRY’S NUMBER ONE PASTIME.
BUT MY DAD IS NO ORDINARY GARDENER.
HE’S ALSO AN AGRONOMIST
SPECIALIZING IN NITROGEN-FIXING PLANTS.
WITH HIM, THERE’S NO SUCH THING
AS A SIMPLE WALK AROUND THE GARDEN.
John Keoghan: THE KEY THING ABOUT THIS GARDEN, PHIL,
LESS THAN 0.5% OF THE NATIVE VEGETATION
OF THE CANTERBURY PLAINS IS LEFT AFTER DEVELOPMENT.
LESS THAN 0.5%.
IT’S A REAL INCENTIVE
TO PUT SOMETHING BACK INTO THE LANDSCAPE.
Phil: WHAT HAVE YOU GOT IN THE GARDEN HERE?
John: WELL, I’VE GOT A TREMENDOUS RANGE OF HEBES.
I’VE HAD CLIMBING BEANS, BUTTERNUT PUMPKIN...
LEGUMES, LEGUMES EVERYWHERE...
TRIPLED-GRAFTED APPLE, GRANNY SMITH, BRAEBURN...
[CRUNCH] Phil: MMM.
John: QUINCE, ALMOND, TEA TREES, A PEACHCOT, GUAVA,
YELLOW AND RED-BERRIED COROKIAS, KOWHAIS, CORDYLINE AUSTRALIS,
NOTHOFAGUS, HEBE SUTHERLANDII, PODOCARPUS TOTARA, COPROSMAS,
HEBE PINGUIFOLIA, HEBE ALBICANS...
Phil: IS THAT GRANDDAD’S OLD GLASS HOUSE?
John: NO.
RATA, MYRTACEA, POHUTUKAWA, MANUKA, KANUKA--
Phil: DAD, I HATE TO--
John: LOOK OVER HERE, PHIL.
TOTARA, CHIONOCHLOAS, THE BLUE TUSSOCK,
THE SILVER TUSSOCKS, DWARF TOI TOI--
Phil: YOUR FAVORITES.
John: FLAVICANS. Phil: YES.
John: WINTER NELIS, COPROSMAS, LOPHOMYRTUSES...
[CONTINUES LISTING PLANT SPECIES]
Phil: DAD, I HAVE TO GET ON THE ROAD.
John: THERE’S SOMETHING OVER HERE I REALLY WANT TO SHOW YOU.
[PHIL CHUCKLES]
HANG ON, THIS, THIS IS THE ULTIMATE.
COME DOWN HERE AND HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.
[MEOW]
Phil: I’M LEAVING CHRISTCHURCH RIGHT NOW
AND FOLLOWING THE COASTLINE NORTH...
ALL THE WAY UP HERE TO THE SEASIDE TOWN OF KAIKOURA.
WHAT’S INCREDIBLE ABOUT THIS PLACE
IS THAT THERE’S THIS REALLY DEEP TRENCH
ABOUT 3,000 FEET DEEP JUST HALF A MILE OFF SHORE.
IT’S ALSO AN AMAZING PLACE TO SEE SPERM WHALES.
THE SPERM WHALE WAS MADE FAMOUS IN THE STORY OF "MOBY DICK"
AND CAN GROW UP TO 70 FEET LONG.
THEY CAN ALSO DIVE OVER 3,000 FEET ON ONE BREATH
TO LOOK FOR FOOD--
WHICH IS A LONG WAY TO GO FOR A GOOD FEED.
IT’S A LOT EASIER FOR HUMANS.
IF YOU LIKE GOOD SEAFOOD, THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
MY FRIEND CLARKIE OFFERS GREAT SEAFOOD
ON SHORE HERE AT NIN’S BIN.
HE’S ALSO GOT AN IMPRESSIVE MULLET.
I COULDN’T COME BACK TO NEW ZEALAND
AND NOT POP IN AND SEE YOU.
TWO REASONS-- FIRST AND FOREMOST,
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD YOUR ’80s HAIRCUT STILL.
EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, YOU GOT THAT MULLET GOING ON.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN MY OPINION
THE BEST TAKEAWAY FOOD IN NEW ZEALAND,
RIGHT HERE AT NIN’S BIN.
Rodney Clark: I RECKON. Phil: DON’T YOU RECKON?
Rodney: YEAH, I THINK SO.
Phil: AS FAR AS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT YOU CALL A CRAYFISH
AND THE AMERICANS CALL A LOBSTER.
Rodney: YEAH, I’VE ONLY EATEN ONE LOBSTER IN ME LIFE.
BUT, UM...
YEAH, THEY’VE GOT LIKE THE BIG CLAW...
Phil: YEAH.
Rodney: NOT SUCH A BIG TAIL.
WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM MAINE AND THAT COME IN,
AND THEY THINK IT’S SWEETER.
Phil: THEY’RE LITERALLY OUT OF THE OCEAN RIGHT HERE.
Rodney: JUST THERE, YUP.
Phil: AND THESE ARE TODAY. FRESH, BEAUTIFUL.
Rodney: FRESH AS THE DAY.
Phil: THE BEST SEAFOOD IN NEW ZEALAND.
CAN’T BEAT IT.
Rodney: PRETTY GOOD.
Phil: SCOTT, HAVE A PIECE OF THAT.
[LAUGHING]
THERE YOU GO. GOT TO KEEP ’EM HAPPY.
THAT’S THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE
WITH EATING FOOD IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA
IS THEY START DROOLING AND CARRYING ON.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT? FAMILY BUSINESS?
Rodney: MM-HMM. MY DAD STARTED NIN’S BIN IN 1977.
EVERYONE THOUGHT HE WAS MAD
BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK YOU’RE CAMPING.
Phil: THIS IS THE ORIGINAL CARAVAN?
Rodney: NO, NO, WE’VE HAD A COUPLE SINCE THEN.
Phil: THE WEATHER, I WOULD IMAGINE,
IS PRETTY TOUGH ON THE, ON THE CARAVAN.
Rodney: YEAH, AND ONE DAY A TOYOTA LAND CRUISER,
THE GUY FELL ASLEEP,
HE WENT THROUGH A POWER POLE JUST UP THE ROAD THERE,
JUST ON THE CORNER--
Phil: AND CAME SCREAMING THROUGH THE SHOP.
Rodney: YEAH, AND HIT THE SHOP, HIT THE PARK BENCH,
WAS OVER THERE, AND ENDED UP ON THE BEACH.
LUCKILY IT ONLY HIT THE COUNTER
AND THE WHOLE CARAVAN JUST COLLAPSED,
AND POOR OLD NIN, WHO USED TO WORK IN THERE.
AND WE PULLED ALL THE WALLS OFF HER
AND SHE WAS FINE, AND SHE GETS UP
AND SHE WALKS OVER TO THE GUY IN THE LAND CRUISER
AND GOES, "OH, WERE YOU CALLING IN TO BUY A CRAYFISH?"
Phil: SHE DID NOT! Rodney: SHE DID.
ALL SHE HAD WAS A BRUISE ON HER LEG,
AND SHE WAS ABOUT 70 SOMETHING.
Phil: DON’T LOSE THE MULLET.
Rodney: NO. KEEPS THE SUN OFF. Phil: YEAH.
[LAUGHTER]
Phil: IT’S TOUGH LEAVING ALL THESE TASTY UNEATEN CRAYFISH
ON THE TABLE,
BUT WHEN PETER JACKSON OFFERS YOU A CHANCE TO GET HIGH
IN ONE OF HIS PRIZED WORLD WAR I PLANES,
WELL, HOW CAN YOU SAY NO?
Peter: YOU SEE A LOT OF PHOTOS OF PLANES IN TREES...
Phil: WE’RE HEADING NORTH, 60 MILES NORTH OF WELLINGTON
TO HOOD AERODROME... HERE IN MASTERTON.
THIS IS WHERE PETER JACKSON HOUSES
HIS SPECTACULAR COLLECTION OF WORLD WAR I PLANES.
WHAT MAKES THE COLLECTION SO UNIQUE
IS THAT INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR
AND LOOKING PRETTY,
THESE PLANES FLY!
♪
AND VISITORS CAN PAY TO GO BACK IN TIME
TO EXPERIENCE VINTAGE AVIATION FROM ANOTHER ERA.
JACKSON’S CHIEF PILOT
AND VINTAGE AVIATOR PRODUCTION MANAGER GENE DE MARCO
HAS MORE DOCUMENTED HOURS
PILOTING ORIGINAL AND REPLICA WORLD WAR I AIRCRAFT
THAN ANYONE...EVER!
[ENGINE SPUTTERING]
WHOA!
THAT SOUNDS MORE LIKE A MOTORBIKE
THAN IT DOES A PLANE.
THIS IS JUST ONE
OF PETER JACKSON’S 70 WORLD WAR I PLANES.
♪
I’M IN THE WRONG SEAT, AREN’T I?
Pilot: YEAH, YOU’RE IN THE WRONG SEAT.
Gene De Marco: APPROACH AT ABOUT 70,
AND ONCE YOU GET OVER THE FENCE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY,
PULL THE POWER BACK AND SETTLE DOWN AT ABOUT 40.
Phil: UH, GENE? Gene: YES.
Phil: IS THERE AN AIR BAG IN HERE?
Gene: AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, YES, YOU’RE COMPLETELY SAFE.
Phil: I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I’M SITTING ON A FUEL TANK
AND I CAN SMELL FUEL.
Gene: JUST REMEMBER THAT A LOT OF THIS TIMBER IS 100 YEARS OLD.
Phil: SERIOUSLY, I’M SITTING ON A FUEL TANK.
Gene: YEAH, I KNOW YOU ARE.
Phil: THAT’S COMFORTING, THANK YOU.
I HAVE FAITH IN THE WORKMANSHIP
OF ALL THE CREW BACK IN WELLINGTON.
Gene: CONTACT? Pilot: CONTACT.
♪
Phil: THERE ARE NOW ONLY TWO
ORIGINAL GERMAN ALBATROSS FIGHTERS IN THE WORLD.
THIS ONE WAS MADE FROM SCRATCH
BY PETER JACKSON’S TEAM IN WELLINGTON.
THE MOST FAMOUS WORLD WAR I BRITISH FIGHTER
IS THE SOPWITH CAMEL,
WHICH SHOT DOWN MORE ENEMY AIRCRAFT
THAN ANY OTHER ALLIED PLANE.
IT WAS USED IN THE MOVIE "KING KONG"
AND ALSO FLOWN BY SNOOPY.
THAT WAS SO EXHILARATING.
I MEAN, YOU FEEL EVERYTHING IN THE PLANE WHILE YOU’RE FLYING.
Gene: DON’T SUGARCOAT IT. TELL US HOW IT REALLY WAS.
Phil: NO, I’M TELLING YOU,
ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS SCREAM WHEN YOU’RE UP THERE.
EXCEPT, JUST AS WE WERE ABOUT TO TAKE OFF,
I READ THIS LITTLE WARNING SIGN IN HERE,
Gene: YEAH.
Phil: "LIMITED AIRCRAFT AND DOES NOT MEET
THE NEW ZEALAND CIVIL AVIATION AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS."
Gene: IT WOULDN’T BE ANY FUN
IF IT FLEW JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER MODERN AIRPLANE.
THESE THINGS ALL HAVE A PERSONALITY OF THEIR OWN.
Phil: I FELT LIKE I WAS FLYING IN AN ANTIQUE,
I’LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR!
Pilot: MY PLEASURE, MY PLEASURE.
Phil: WE’VE TRAVELED BACK TO THE TOP OF NEW ZEALAND,
JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY OF AUCKLAND...
AND WE’RE HEADING NORTH ON THE WEST COAST...
ALONG THESE DRAMATIC BLACK SAND BEACHES.
THESE IRON-RICH SANDS COME FROM VOLCANOS
THAT ERUPTED HERE MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO.
THEY ALSO CREATED THIS ICONIC GEOLOGICAL FEATURE...
APTLY NAMED LION ROCK.
30 MILES NORTH FROM HERE
YOU’LL FIND A DOZEN MORE ICONIC LANDMARKS...
♪
RISING UP FROM THESE LUSH, ROLLING GREEN HILLS.
BUT THESE MASSIVE CREATIONS ARE ACTUALLY OBJECTS OF ART
WHICH BELONG TO AN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN
NAMED ALAN GIBBS.
FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES,
GIBBS HAS BEEN INVITING FAMOUS ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
TO CREATE THEIR BIGGEST AND BEST WORKS HERE
ON THIS LUSH, ROLLING COUNTRYSIDE,
WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BY SPECIAL INVITATION.
Alan Gibbs: MY BOOK IS CALLED "SERIOUS FUN."
Phil: AND YOU’VE HAD SOME SERIOUS FUN IN YOUR LIFE.
Alan: I HAVE. [LAUGHS]
Phil: ALAN IS A RARE BREED INDEED--
A POLITICAL ACTIVIST,
PHILANTHROPIST, ADVENTURER, INVENTOR AND ENTREPRENEUR
ESTABLISHING NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST CAR DEALERSHIP.
AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS INVESTOR,
HE’S AMASSED A FORTUNE WORTH OVER $400 MILLION.
Phil: NEIL DAWSON OVER HERE.
Alan: NEIL DAWSON’S THERE, ALRIGHT.
IT’S A FANTASTIC WORK.
IT’S THE MOST POPULAR WORK WITH THE PUBLIC.
Phil: HE SEEMS TO HAVE A WAY
OF INCORPORATING THE SKY IN HIS PIECES.
Alan: YES, AND THEN NEXT TO IT YOU’VE GOT THE ANISH KAPOOR--
AND THEN YOU’VE GOT THE BERNARD VENET.
Phil: YOU, MY FRIEND, ARE A VISIONARY.
I MEAN, ANYBODY, ANYBODY WHO THINKS,
"HMM, HOW ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL 820-FOOT PIECE OF ARTWORK
OUT IN THE LANDSCAPE,"
THAT TAKES VISION.
Alan: NO, IT TAKES STUPIDITY. [LAUGHS]
AND STUPIDITY IS FUN.
Phil: ALAN COMMISSIONED AMERICAN ARTIST RICHARD SERRA,
KNOWN FOR HIS LARGE-SCALE STEEL DESIGNS,
TO CREATE SOMETHING ON A GRAND SCALE.
Alan: HE WANTED TO PUT A COLOSSAL PIECE OF STEEL
ON THE SIDE OF A CUT HILL.
THE LARGEST THEY COULD MAKE IT AT THE PLANT HE USES IN GERMANY
WAS 16 FEET HIGH.
WE SAID LOOK, RICHARD, IT’S JUST NOT HIGH ENOUGH,
SO HE SAID, "I CAN’T GET 20 FEET."
SO I SAID ALRIGHT, WELL, HOW ABOUT MAKING IT IN CONCRETE,
’CAUSE I KNEW THAT WOULD DRIVE HIM MAD.
Phil: YOU KNEW HOW TO TWEAK HIM, DIDN’T YOU?
Alan: OH, YOU’VE GOT TO IF YOU WANT TO GET WHAT YOU WANT,
DON’T YOU, IN LIFE.
Phil: RICHARD’S DESIGN FOLLOWS A SINGLE CONTOUR LIKE A SERPENT
WITH THE STEEL ALWAYS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LAND...
A TREMENDOUS ENGINEERING FEAT.
Alan: IT TOOK US A YEAR TO ERECT IT.
PILED DOWN ABOUT 30 METERS
BECAUSE THERE’S A HUGE WIND LOAD.
BUT ALSO IT EXPANDS TWO INCHES IN THE SUN.
Phil: IN THE END, RICHARD SERRA USED 56 ENORMOUS STEEL PLATES,
2.5 INCHES THICK, AND RISING TWO STORIES ABOVE THE GROUND.
THE RESULT IS SIMPLY BREATH-TAKING.
THIS PIECE BY ANISH KAPOOR IS THE ARTIST’S LARGEST WORK.
30 KEVLAR CABLES ATTACHED TO FABRIC
HAVE CREATED THIS GIANT TUBE
THAT DOES A 90-DEGREE TWIST OVER THE HILL.
Alan: GOOD ON YA, MAN, YOU’RE A CLIMBER.
Phil: IT’S LIKE A GIANT TRAMPOLINE UP HERE.
Alan: HAVE A BOUNCE. Phil: HAVE A BOUNCE.
[ALAN GIGGLES]
Phil: THERE’S THAT LITTLE GIGGLE AGAIN, ALAN.
[GIGGLES]
Phil: WHEN YOU GO OUT IN ALAN’S CAR,
YOU’RE NEVER IN FOR AN ORDINARY SUNDAY DRIVE.
THIS IS ALAN’S AQUADA THAT HE DESIGNED IN 2003.
THERE’S JUST SOMETHING WONDERFUL
ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE ON THE LAND
AND THEN GO RIGHT INTO THE WATER.
PERFECT.
[ENGINE REVVING]
WOW, THAT IS AWESOME! AH!
HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?
Alan: [LAUGHS] PRETTY GOOD.
Phil: YOU LOVE IT?
[ALAN LAUGHS]
IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA
TO TAKE SOMEONE OUT ON A DATE IN ONE OF THESE.
YOU’RE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY,
AND THEN YOU JUST HEAD OFF INTO THE LAKE.
[ENGINE RUMBLING]
WOO HOO!
[ALAN LAUGHS]
Phil: THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL KIWI INGENUITY AT ITS BEST, ALAN.
AWESOME.
Alan: WELL, YOU KNOW, NEXT WE’RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE IT FLY
WITH A HELICOPTER THING ON TOP.
Phil: HAVE YOU ALREADY THOUGHT OF THAT?
♪
Phil: LIKE SO MANY NEW ZEALANDERS,
ALAN’S GROUND-BREAKING IDEAS COME FROM THE CHALLENGE
OF LIVING IN THIS STUNNINGLY DIVERSE LANDSCAPE...
A LAND OF FIRE...
AND ICE...
HOME TO THRILL SEEKERS AND ADVENTURERS
WHO BOLDLY VENTURE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK...
WHERE THE SCENERY IS SO BREATH-TAKING
IT DEFIES BELIEF...
AN ASTONISHING COUNTRY THAT CONTINUES
TO INSPIRE AND SHAPE THE PERSONALITY OF ITS PEOPLE.
AT ANY POINT IF YOU FEEL LIKE DIRECTING, FEEL FREE...
[LAUGHTER]
RUGGED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NEVER AFRAID
TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND GIVE IT A GO!
INNOVATIVE KIWIS WHO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES...
GAME CHANGERS, WHO LIVE HERE...
ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD!
NOW, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO COME HERE?
[AIRPLANE PASSING]
WELL, WE GOT SOME VISITORS.