Smorgasboarder_11_May-2012

“It’s a film about unity and
peace and understanding, about
taking time to listen, to learn
about the other, and for this
reason, it appeals to anybody
and everybody.”
MAIN: Lyall Bay in Wellington. Surf meets runway.
TOP: Orca Rescue Ruakaka
ABOVE: Nicolas and his mounted boardcam
Photos supplied by Nicolas Brikké
much to what the general public has to
say about it, is something that’s guided
me in the last year. “
In real-life drama Nicolas was lucky
enough to capture, an Orca known as
Putita decided to beach itself in front
of Roger Hall’s house in Ruakaka.
”We grabbed the camera and got
some incredible footage of Putita’s
mother, Yin, endeavouring to help him.
His brother, Rua, came out from the
depth to assist too. There were a lot of
people on the beach but nothing much
was happening.
“Along with Roger Hall and SEWN
co-producer Kirsten Berrett, we
decided to put on the wetsuits and at
least go and spray Putita with some
water as his skin was getting dry. By
the time we came back, Orca expert Dr.
Ingrid Visser was there, organising the
Department of Conservation officials
for the attempt to rescue the Orca.
She saw us in wetsuits and told us to
come and join the effort so we went
in the water to help push him back out
to safety.
“Before we entered the water, Dr.
Visser went out by herself in waist
deep water and talked to Putita,
then went in chest deep water and
talked to the distraught Yin and Rua
who were peacefully listening to her.
After an hour of pushing Putita, he
finally managed to get loose and join
his family again. The scenes of the
family reuniting is one of the most
emotional signs of affection I’ve
seen from animals, something I, and
everybody involved, will never forget!
The footage we shot got screened the
day after on TV3, and on CBS News
New York the day after. Three days
after the beaching, Putita, Yin and Rua
came by in front of Ingrid’s house and
spent a bit of time with her, as a sign
of gratitude.”
Not a bad stroke of luck for a
filmmaker-to-be.
Over 30 screenings later, SEWN has
enjoyed 1500 spectators and close to
400 DVDs have been sold.
“I’ve had overwhelming responses
from longboarders and shortboarders
alike, from young and old, music lovers
and musicians, Maoris, Kiwis and
foreigners in the four corners of the
two main islands of the country. I went
to show it in NZ first to gauge whether
my vision was truthful to their concept
of NZ, and it is.”
For a heartfelt look into the lives
of the North Island longboarding
community, get your hands on SEWN.
The DVD will shortly be available in
shops around NZ and Nicolas hopes
to get it into Australian shops as well.
For updates, follow the Facebook page
(Sewn Longboarding) and to check out
the website at www.sewn.co.nz.
may/jun 2012
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