Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui-a-Tāne.
The tōtara tree has fallen in Tāne’s great forest.
I was so deeply privileged to have met Doug Allan on his recent Aotearoa/NZ South Island tour. I was absolutely drawn into his stories which he told through humor, while sharing the real grit and determination he and his team had when capturing the lives of animals big and small in some of the most untouched, isolated areas of the world in the most grueling conditions. He shared the highs and the lows of science communication, the mismatch between realism and constructed narrative, and the absolute awe he had for nature. He was humble, kind, honest, and deeply committed to his work as a videographer.
At the end of his presentation, I asked him if there was a moment of nature connection in his childhood that he felt had led him on this path in life... his response was a beautiful story of a stranger's generosity. As a young boy, he saw a stranger snorkeling and was curious as to what they were doing. They offered for him to use the mask to put his head into the water and see life below the surface. It was in that moment that his world expanded, he discovered new creatures hidden right below the surface that he had not seen before, and he was hooked.
That is the power of connection.
Doug went on to tell the stories of the world around him, and especially loved the ocean. He has inspired generations of people to care for the planet, and his work will continue to do this forever.
Rest in paradise Doug. Ngā mihi nui for all that you have done.
