New Zealand Stories - Southland - A Collection of Photos Capturing Kiwi Culture by Murray Hedwig and Anita Peters

Southland

Whitebaiting has long been an established tradition for Southlanders, one that for many forms parts of a year-long cycle of hunting and gathering of fish, opossum, duck and deer. The whitebait season falling as it does in the late winter and early spring months, can be very cold and wet but many of the whitebaiters here are retired folk who can bunker in for the entire three-month seanson. When the sometimes bone-chilling rains sweep up from the Antarctic, bringing a halt to the whitebaiting, crib and stand maintenance share time with tall tales over cuppas and whiskies.