Page 64 - 2008 NZ Subantarctic Islands

year for that treat. But we still did not find our Stewart Island visit

to be a “drag.”

We learned on our bus tour of the capital city and its environs
quite a bit about this remote island. Maori have lived on the

island for many more years than the Europeans who only arrived
in the 1850s. There was considerable intermarriage among the
Europeans who were mostly whalers, fishermen, fur seal hunters

and assorted other explorer-bachelors. Many of the people
presently on Stewart are products of these intermarriages and

proud of their dual heritage. Not only do these independent folks
generate their own electricity, they take care of their own sewage

through a local treatment plant. Recycling plastics, glass, and
paper is another enterprise the Stewart Islanders handle on their

own.

One enterprising former fisherman, tired of his profession, came

up with the unique idea of collecting the rainwater from the roof
of the new community center and selling it on the mainland as a

healthy bottled drink. Apparently, the lure of Stewart Island
rainwater has made his business thrive. There are a couple of

stores in Oban, a motel or two, a couple of restaurants, and the
regional headquarters of the redoubtable DOC. Property values in

the town have risen due to the demand by mainlanders who want
to own their vacation spots. Some really lovely houses with
spectacular views of the many beaches were on our bus tour

agenda. There are lovely beaches around the island that certainly
look more tropical than SubAntarctic. Oban is a pretty little town

indeed.

A visit to the Fuchsia Walk was strongly suggested to us and we
were happy to comply. The walk, right in the middle of the town,

has been created by the townfolk with the assistance of DOC to
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