Codfish Island

Recollections of a visit to Whenua Hou / Codfish Island to remove an avian predator during the winter of 1981.

Off the west coast of Rakiura / Stewart Island, Codfish Island / Whenua Hou is a small piece of primal New Zealand. In the winter of 1981, I was privileged to spend two weeks there as a NZ Wildlife Service volunteer helping remove a native avian predator. Forty years on, the recollections of the visit are as fresh and memorable as the day I left the island.

In New Zealand, 1981 was tumultuous. It was the year of the divisive Springboks rugby tour that resulted in eight weeks of running battles up and down the country between tour supporters, police and tour opponents at each of the 16 scheduled games.

In February, at the MCG, Trevor Chappell bowled his infamous underarm ball to Brian McKechnie, to prevent the No 10 New Zealand batsman hitting a six and tying the game. The All Whites beat Australia on their road to qualify for the 1982 soccer World Cup in Spain and in the USA Alison Roe won both the New York and Boston marathons.

Codfish Island / Whenua Hou situated near the northwest coast of Rakiura / Stewart Island

Away from the sports field Robert Muldoon was Prime Minister, "an orchestrated litany of lies" entered the New Zealand lexicon when Justice Peter Mahon released his controversial report into the 1979 Air New Zealand Erebus disaster and the kiwi classic "Smash Palace" starring Bruno Lawrence and Greer Robson was released to launch the directing career of Roger Donaldson.

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