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Background

Ash is a sea caves tour guide in the Whitianga Wharf. His down to earth focus on being one with nature makes him a thrilling guide for any and all who step into his boat. This is his story:

Daily Life

The Whitianga Wharf is Ash’s self proclaimed backyard. “The land and nature is sacred, we don’t think we’re above it. It’s above us,” he says. As a Maori, he feels connected to the land and the water and knows the traditions and the stories of his ancestors. As we approached Cathedral Cove, which he says is really only famous to tourists because Microsoft made it their default background in Windows, he instead focuses on the Maori ancient tribe leaders who would meet on this secluded beach for peace talks. It was the ancient equivalent of the UN Headquarters in Geneva.

Ash loves being away from it all, even if the nearest hospital is 2 and a half hours away, he loves the connection to water and to his people. Ash’s background is in monitoring and tracking whale migrations, specifically orcas in the area. He’s swam with the whales since he was a child and knows them intimately and personally. He’s currently working with a documentary film crew to study the whales off New Zealand and Tonga a bit more closely, and hopefully educate more on preserving their way of life.

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His Perspective

In looking over his gulf and “backyard” Ash often laments some of the damage that was done by European invaders in the not so distant history. He feels that tourism is saving his country from poverty and getting back their land from imperialist who have stolen it without going into deforestation with lumber business and commercial fishing practices. Tourism is one of the only profitable industry that doesn’t hurt his land.

Ash is grateful, humble, personable and laid back. He works to make things better for the planet and his own life and family. He likes simple pleasures along with awesome adventures, from taking his boat out on the gulf right by his home, to traveling to Tonga and taking tourists to swim with whale sharks, Ash finds joy in being exactly where he is in the moment and not taking anything for granted.

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