Hunter-gatherer nets his own TV show
‘‘Maybe one day I'll be able to go sit up in the hills and reflect on what I've achieved.’’
Hunter, bow-maker and bushcraftsman Owen Boynton will make is debut as Toa Hunter Gatherer on Maori Television in September.
Boynton made his first bow when he was just 10-years-old, and now he has a workshop in Cambridge where he makes traditional long bows for national and international customers.
‘‘My family were hunter gatherers so it’s just been the way of my family,’’ he said.
‘‘But it’s not the way of hunting where you might shoot something, high-five your mate, and have a beer. We take a more holistic approach.’’
He said they hunt to provide and respect their environment, which he feels puts them in tune with nature.
‘‘Our philosophy is to show the new generation that have found hunting amidst this technological world we live in today, and be the backbone to strengthen the old school ways in hunting mentality - hunting to provide,’’ he said.
For the show, Boynton travelled all over New Zealand - from the top of the North Island, to the Chatham Islands, and the Southern Alps.
He crafts his own hooks and arrows, and takes an ethical approach to hunting.
The series consists of eight episodes where he will talk with experts to celebrate the unique attributes of each region, and unearth historical approaches to hunting, fishing, and bush craft practice along the way.
The show was produced by Awa Films.
It was funded, $240,000, by NZ On Air.
He started his workshop four years ago, and has since gained more than 11,000 followers on his page.
‘‘I started out with just a few likes from family but it just grew,’’ he said.
With a plumbing business as well, Boynton is a busy man and hasn’t really had time to think about the show since filming finished.
‘‘I’ve been juggling to two businesses as well as a new addition to the family but maybe one day I’ll be able to go sit up in the hills and reflect on what I’ve achieved,’’ he said.
‘‘It hasn’t really hit me yet, that I’m going on TV.
‘‘But maybe when it goes to air then it will hit me.’’
A second season could be on the cards.
He said it was hard to tell how successful a programme was just from its first season and that the second season is normally more accurate with ratings.
‘‘Whaia te taonga o te whenua, harness the treasure of our land.’’
Toa Hunter Gatherer premiers on Maori Television at 9.30pm on Monday, September 12.