I grew up in Gisborne, spending a number of years living in the South Island before the gravitational pull that is Auckland dragged me in.
Since then I've had two distinctly different Auckland experiences, which I define as "pre-boat" and "post-boat". I now freely admit to once being a bit naive to the incredible marine scape that is on Auckland's doorstep. At every opportunity I would make my excuses and scuttle home to Gisborne and Mahia to get my fix. But then I inherited a trusty little 14ft 1970s beige fibreglass boat, I named it Brown Thunder, and my world improved immeasurably.
I still remember catching my first few legal snapper just off Rangitoto Island and proudly bringing them home to the flat to eat, incredulous that this was all possible butted hard up against the country's most populous city.
After that, I found islands to explore, places to dive, birds and whales to see, water-accessible pubs to visit, sharks to fend off, secret pipi beds, scallops, mussels and once even a few legal pāua out from Takapuna. I started making the odd video of my experience, which set me on a path to developing an international fishing show now showing off the very best of New Zealand and the Pacific to more than 83 countries. I have the Hauraki Gulf to thank for that, and every day, more and more people like me are discovering it for themselves.