My Tribute To Mum Elisabeth's Heartbreak Island

Her proud homage to a documentary pioneer.

 

 

- Sebastian Vanderzwan

Elisabeth Easther and her documentary crew are bumping through the bush on Tiritiri Matangi Island in a jeep when suddenly a trio of dinosaur-like birds rush out of the long grass and give chase in a scene reminiscent of Jurassic Park.

It’s a hungry takahe mother, father and chick, and soon they’re almost literally eating out of Elisabeth’s hands on the Hauraki Gulf nature reserve.

“This is extraordinary,” she whispers to Woman’s Day as the endangered, flightless birds creep closer. “Especially considering they were thought to be extinct until the 1940s. And they’re so fearless, despite their history with people. I’m going to carry takahe food in the glovebox of my car from now on!”

Most famous for her role as murderous nurse Carla Crozier on Shortland Street in the mid-’90s, Elisabeth, 47, is still acting and working in radio, as well as writing award-winning plays and travel stories. But her latest gig is the one closest to her heart.

She’s hosting the TVNZ 1 series Islands of the Gulf, a reboot of New Zealand’s firstever locally made documentary series, which explored the diverse environments and communities of the Hauraki Gulf. It was written, hosted, directed and produced in 1964 by our first female TV producer, the late Shirley Maddock. Also a stage actress and author, Shirley just happened to be Elisabeth’s mother too.