New Zealand

Life is easier than elsewhere. So much nature for so few people. Rugged coastlines, wide bays, large forests. Many fall in love with Godzone. And some decide to stay for good.

Report by Michael Dietrich.
Travel infos by Marianne Weissbach

The prettiest girls of the South Seas

Reports by Ulli Weissbach

Der Himmel auf Erden (Heaven on earth)

Bus-Safari through Samoa

Report by Ulli Weissbach (text)
and Holger Leue (photos)

Mit Dulcie ans Ende der Welt (With Dulcie to the end of the world)

Air Safari with a DC3 through New Zealand

Report by Ulli Weissbach (text)
and Holger Leue (photos)

Bruckmann Verlag (Germany)
Pictorial in the series “on the road”:

Erlebtes Neuseeland (New Zealand Experience)

Photos: Holger Leue

Article “Nostalgic air trip with a DC3”
and “City of Sails”: Ulli Weissbach

ISBN: 3-7654-3749-2
Price: 27,90 Euro

ARD Brisant (German TV1)
Broadcast 22 July 2002

Lord of the Bras

Around 300 bras decorate a South Island farmer’s paddock fence, distracting the attention of male commuters passing on the country road. The first bras came from a handful of local female exhibitionists who secretly removed their undergarments at the fence. Speculation still surrounds their motives, but it started a chain reaction of copycats. Since being exposed to the world via newspaper and radio, more and more colourful exhibits have arrived by mail, many of them with a letter and a return address. 66-year old farmer John Lee has no idea how he managed to get all this attention, but he plays along with a twinkle in his eye.

ARD Mittagsmagazin (German TV1)
Broadcast 19 June, 2002

Race of the film reels

This example from New Zealand proves that provincial cinemas don’t need to die out and have a chance for survival. Two small cinemas in Northland came up with a clever plan which not only saves them distribution fees, but also brings the latest blockbuster movies to the countryside. The ‘Race of the film reels” is practised by the Swamp Palace in Oruru and the Cathay Theatre in Kerikeri.

ARD Nullacht 13 (German TV1)
Broadcast 27 April, 2002

The pitch and sulphur kids of Rotorua

New Zealand’s Rotorua is one of the most active volcanic and thermal areas on the planet. In its middle is Whaka Village, home to a unique Maori community, the native inhabitants of New Zealand. For generations they used the hot water springs for cooking and washing. Nullacht 13 shows how this works and how kids living in a thermal village can still have lots of fun.

ARD Globus (German TV1)
Broadcast 3 April, 2002

Secrets of the giant squid

No human being has ever seen the legendary giant squid alive. The legendary animal has been described in Jules Vernes’ fantasy novel 2000 Leagues Under the Sea. It remains one of the biggest mysteries of marine science. Giant squip live in depths of more than 500 m and are one of the core food sources for whales. For some years now, a number of dead specimens have been washed up on New Zealand shores. The monsters had tentacles up to 10 metres long and weighed as much as 300 kg. 15 squid have since been moved to the freezers at the National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research, one of the world leading research centres for squid. Recently, it announced a sensational breakthrough.

WDR Erlebnisreisen (German TV)
Broadcast 4 November 2001

Cook Islands – Heart of Polynesia
(30 minute travel documentary)

Polynesia, the largest cultural entity in the Pacific, spans thousands of islands in an ocean area as large as Europe. They were populated by Polynesians who conquered the Pacific Ocean thousands of years ago in simple sailing canoes. The 15 Cook Islands are in the heart of Polynesia and offer a little bit of everything from Polynesia: high, mountainous islands of volcanic origin, flat atolls with huge lagoons and rocky coral islands with caves and jungles that look like a South Pacific Jurassic Park.

• WDR Reiseinfos