Heartland - Stewart Island

In this Heartland episode, Gary McCormick travels to New Zealand’s southernmost community outpost: the town of Oban on Stewart Island’s Half Moon Bay. His journey unfolds as a gently discursive ramble through time and geography, anchored by the island’s annual Festival of The Sea. The festival brings the tight-knit community together, featuring locals from all walks of life—fishermen, conservationists, and childcare workers among them. The marine mardi gras ends on a highlight with ‘Miss Catch of the Day,’ a spirited drag competition where the island’s rugged blokes swap oilskins for evening gowns.

Why this bay originally was a settlement, you had deep water, a good, clean bay to come up to, and fresh water coming out of the hill. So that was your main ingredients for settlement.

– Stewart Island resident Peggy Wilson on the island’s Half Moon Bay

Key Cast & Crew

Bruce Morrison

Director

Rick Allender

Camera

Kerre Woodham

Presenter

William Grieve

Producer

Gary McCormick

Presenter

Stephen McCurdy

Composer