Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Hi there. Another season comes to an end. It's been a great season with great guests and fascinating conversations. I thank all the guests who have appeared and all those who have helped me along the way. Please contact me at talesofthebuller@gmail.com if you want to come on or have a …

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast warmly welcomes John Reedy Snr and John Rogers. Both these men have spent a lifetime contributing to Buller and NZ harness racing. Legends in the sport both have bred and trained many horses, and both have contributed to NZ harness racing at the highest levels. This is a gr…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes Buller legend and retired teacher Barry Townrow. This man has an incredible list of achievements and is a true champion of the community. Barry is, among many other things, a local JP since 1998, board member of Buller cricket for over 50 years and current Presiden…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes a true Buller sporting legend: Mr Alan Ireland. Alan has represented Buller in both Rugby and Cricket and he has been involved for 66 years with his beloved Ngakawau Rugby Club. Alan was awarded life membership of the Buller Rugby Club in 2019. Alan has played, coa…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast warmly welcomes Wayne Fleming. Wayne is a well known figure in both the Buller Rugby and mining communities. In this episode Wayne tells of mining both in Australia and NZ and much more which makes for an informative and entertaining episode. Enjoy! Support the show…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast warmly welcomes Steve Bell. Steve is from an illustrious mining/mineral/drilling family and was himself the youngest mine manager in NZ when he took on the role at Stockton. This is a fascinating episode with a girth of knowledge of mining both in NZ and Australia. Steve wa…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes the incredible Tony Fortune. This is the first episode on the road and was recorded in Reefton. Tony is an amazing character and has had a fascinating life. Educator, adventurer, mountain climber, cyclist and President of the West Coast Justice of the Peace Associa…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Quick hello, season 5 intro and a shout out to Sounds Air who did me a big favour recently. The first season 5 episode will be tomorrow July 29. Support the showDi Mike

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. End of Season 4. Support the showDi Mike

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Phyllis Phipps passed away this week in her 98th year. She was a treasured guest of this podcast and I wish to pay her tribute and pay my respects to Phyllis and her friends and family. The Buller has lost one of its best. Support the show…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast warmly welcomes Gary Bainbridge. Gary is a 4th generation coal miner and was born and raised on the Denniston Plateau. Gary tells fascinating tales of growing up on Denniston and what it was like at that time including working on the Incline and riding the wagons down to th…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes the fantastic Marissa Stuart. Marissa was born and bred in Reefton and spent her high school years and more in Westport. Marissa shares some hilarious tales of life in Westport as a teenager and just what Westport was like at that time. Marissa owns and operates Bo…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes the fascinating Howard Hill. Howard is Westport born and bred. He is a successful businessman, and an alumni of Cornell University in the USA. He was a member of the RNZAF which formed the foundation of his later success. Howard talks of his family and life growing…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes John Bennett, a resident of Carters Beach for over 65 years. John shares some history of his family, the local area and much more. In this fascinating episode we hear tales of Hermits with hidden gold, TB scares and nightmares, climbing into blowholes at Punakaiki,…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes Terry McDonnell. Terry is a well known figure in the Buller coming from an old Buller family and has farmed in this district for a long time, represented Buller at rugby, worked at the Cement Works and much more. Terry also shares going through a major health scare…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast is very happy to present the first multi guest episode featuring generations of Buller Rugby. We welcome Gerald Hart, Thomas Stuart and Andrew Duncan, the current Buller Rugby CEO. Hear tales of history, rivalries and famous games. This episode is a must. Enjoy! Support the…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. We kick off Season 4 with a very well known Buller native, Dan Moloney. Beginning his teaching career at Granity School in 1972 and moving to St Canice’s in 1976, Dan was principal at St Canice’s for 21 years. Following retirement Dan has been heavily involved in community work includi…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. I hope you all enjoyed that short season as much as I did. Thanks to all guests and all who have helped me along the way this year. We will take a short break now until early in the New Year. I wish you all a happy, healthy and safe Christmas and New Year. Cheers. Support the show…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #5. This episode has Jeff Richards talking about the early days of Carters Beach, the Gala and a 'famous' message in a bottle found on the beach. This is the last of the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tales - I hope you have enjoyed them. Episode fund…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #4. This episode has Geoff Brunning describing a life in Carters Beach including playing with water cannons as a child, making flaxwood rafts and finding the wreckage of a ship up by Cape Foulwind. Episode funded by Epic and recorded by Daimon…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #3. This episode has Bernard Menzies telling tales of the early days of Carters Beach. These include the formation of the Carters Beach Top Ten Caravan Park and chasing calves for 10 bob at the Rodeo! Episode funded by Epic and recorded by Dai…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #2. This episode sees Ken Hill describing life in Carters Beach in the early days and how the trail goes right past their family property. Ken and Jeff recount some amazing stories of the area the trail is now passing through and early times a…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. It is my pleasure to present some podcast episodes recorded in 2021 as part of the Kawatiri Coastal Trail project. The episodes in this short season were funded by Epic and recorded by Daimon (The Nomad). Support the showDi Mike

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #1. This has Jeff Richards and Bernard Menzies talking about the early days of Carters Beach and the Galas that were held there along with Rodeos and much more. Episode funded by Epic and recorded by Daimon (The Nomad) in 2021 Enjoy! Support t…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Bit of an abrupt end to the season here as I have had an interesting last month to say the least. Click the follow button on whatever Podcast platform you are using so you are notified when season 3 begins. Be happy and safe. Cheers. Support the show…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes Noel Palmer, a very well known and respected Buller resident from a very old Buller family. Born in the middle of the 1926 floods Noel tells some fascinating tales of growing up with no power for his first 21 years, of his father bringing the first tractor to Westp…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. This week we present a short anthology of poems by the magnificent former guest Phyllis Phipps. Phyllis has written poetry most of her life and we present a selection of these in this episode. The poems are read by Janelle Hooper of the Buller District Library. A big thanks to Janelle …

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast warmly welcomes a true Buller rugby legend, Rodney Dawe. Rodney was born and raised in Ngakawau and he supports the Ngakawau rugby club to this day. Rodney played 59 games for Buller and also played for the combined West Coast/Buller team against the Wallabies, Springboks a…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes Mickey Ryan. A very well known and respected Buller local Mickey has had a very interesting and colourful life. Starting out working in the mines he then joined the NZ Army where he served overseas, including Vietman, for two years. Back in the Buller he went back …

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes the wonderful Phyllis Phipps. 96 years young Phyllis tells tales of how she grew up in Sergeants Hill and later moved into Westport. Phyllis is responsible for starting Buller Basketball, Buller softball, teaching at Buller High School for 30 years and has followed…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast warmly welcomes Ashley Godwin, daughter of Thomas and Barbara Stuart of Donaldo's fame. Ashley is a Buller born and bred 26 year old young woman who is a fantastic example of a young person raised on the West Coast. This is no ordinary young woman. Not by a long shot. She i…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast welcomes Kim Intemann along with Jeff Richards providing info support. Kim is a well known and respected Buller woman with a long history at Carters Beach, having moved here at one year old. She tells some wonderful tales of the early days at Carters Beach and describes the…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Thanks to all the guests and listeners who have made season one so memorable. We will take a break over July now to give time to organise season two. Have a great few weeks. If you wish to contact the podcast the email address is talesofthebuller@gmail.com. Stay safe and happy. Cheers …

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. This episode welcomes Robert Elley to the podcast. Robert is from a well known Buller family and is Buller born and bred. Starting out in bridge building and forestry Robert tells tales of his early days and his eventual move to a management position at Postie Plus where he stayed for …

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. The podcast warmly welcomes Bob Pratt or 'Pratty' as he is more commonly known. Pratty is one of the Pratt family that have owned the Cosmopolitan pub in Westport for three generations. A great bloke and a real Westport stalwart Pratty tells tales of growing up with no power or phone t…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. This episode welcomes Thomas Stuart to the podcast. A man who needs little introduction in the Buller region as he is extremely well known and a Buller rugby legend. Thomas and his wife Barbara own and run Donaldos Cafe in the heart of Carters Beach. Listen to tales of the Inangahua ea…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Back by popular demand is one Mr Gerald Hart. This time round Gerald tells of his cricketing years, as a player and spectator both in the Buller itself and representing the Buller around the country. Included is a tale of Merv Hughes bowling off a long run up through a door of a Wellin…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Lorraine is born and bred in Westport and along with her husband Neville is a well known figure in Carters Beach. Lorraine is known for her work in the railways, early child care and also for being an incredible baker! Listen to Lorraine tell an incredible story about a trombone and th…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Jeff is another very well known character in the Buller. Born and raised locally Jeff has some great yarns about his early life, working on the milk cart and more. He tells a great tale about his best mate Gerald Hart which includes the painting of the local Policeman's house! Listen t…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. A well known and respected local of the Buller Pete manages the golf course and has been a very good golfer in his own right. Pete has some great tales of growing up in Inangahua and retells the day of the 1968 earthquake. He also tells an incredible story of bravery for which his moth…

Click here to send me a message! I would love to hear from you. Listen to a legend in the Buller. The man who kicked the Aussies off the park to help Buller beat the Wallabies in 1972. Gerald tells of his early life and sporting days in the Buller and around NZ. There is a brilliant story of when Gerald befriended one Billy T James (and once jumped…