Haurata Backpacker

First Crossings TV Series It was the broody month of April with hanging dense mist intermittent with rain swallowing the high hills nonstop for 3 weeks the film crew consisting of 7 men from Eyeworks TV making the programme First Crossings made their visit to Haurata. They were in the area to film a programme on Major Mair ( I think ) who spent time pursuing the ominous Te Kooti. On the 4th January 1896 Te Kooti and his followers escaped off the unguarded cliffs on Ngatapa Mountain where they had barricaded themselves in to keep the English constabulary at bay. The weather was wet and misty back then so our weather was authentic for this filming. Kevin and Jamie dressed in period costume left the Haurata backpackers and made their way to the top of Ngatapa Pa site to reenact Te Kooti’s abseiling off the cliffs with a flax rope. lt was very interesting watching them do this filming and it was nice that those cheerful blokes let Jill Charteris , Sally Gaddum and l hang around to watch. We had a lovely day thanks guys. This series will go to air in August.