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Part four of four Spectrum programmes recorded on Stewart Island.
A look at the harvesting of deer, salmon and mutton-birds - and the local brew.
Actuality recorded on board 'The Seven Seas" sailing to Big Glory Bay and Patterson Inlet to harvest fish from the salmon farm there. Jack Perkins describes how the salmon farm is laid out and how the fish are harvested for Japanese and USA markets. The fish can be on sale within 48 hours of being harvested.
Brian Powell, the manager of the salmon operation talks about a school of dolphins watching the harvest and the problems that predators can cause, particularly seals. He discusses the size of the fish and how they are raised.
On land, Jack Perkins talks to Andy Roberts who works for the Department of Conservation culling white-tail deer, which are popular with tourist hunters. It is the only place in New Zealand where they can be hunted. They are very elusive but the meat is much nicer than red deer. they cause a lot of damage to the forest so recreational hunters help keep numbers down.
An unidentified West Coast hunter is interviewed outside the hotel at Half-Moon Bay about his recent hunting and fishing trip.
Fisherman Ron Dennis talks about starting helicopter live deer capture with former fishing nets.
Only Rakiura Māori are permitted to catch the titi or muttonbird from the off-shore islands near Stewart Island, during the season in April - May. Phil Smith is one of them and explains the process for catching the chicks of the sooty shearwater.
He says the oily flesh is an acquired taste but he thinks a fresh roasted mutton bird is superior to a salted one. He recalls the fun he had as a child during the harvest, which is also a social event. His family go every year, with the children doing school work by correspondence organised by the local school for the five to six weeks they are away.
'Roaring 40s' ale is brewed on Stewart Island by Lloyd Wilcox who talks to Jack Perkins about brewing it commercially.
The independent, resilient nature of Stewart Islanders is summed up by one of the interviewees and several residents talk about why they like living on the island.