Manahune Farm

Way before cameras started rolling, back in November of 2009 we had some great publicity in the local Hurunui News newspaper about our intentions to film in the area. Following this we got an email from Stu and Sue Thomson of ‘Manahune’ farm in Waipara offering their farm as a possible location for our shoot.

They had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Not only did we end up using their property for a number of different scenes, but we also rented their cottage and used it as a production base.

We had 10 crew living there for over 4 weeks and many extra crew bunking down for odd nights. We had up to 8 vehicles coming and going all day, tents on the lawn, a portaloo out front and a caravan parked up in the driveway. Hollywood had certainly come to Manahune, or at least our low budget/number 8 wire/fly by the seat of your pants version.

Stu and Sue, along with their three daughters Dana, Bree and Mia, were incredibly welcoming and helpful and immediately became an integral part of the Netherwood crew. One example of the Thomson family generosity was when we were forced back to base one day mid afternoon after a vicious southerly front got the better of us. We had left the place in a bit of a mess when we took off in the morning so you can imagine our joy when we stumbled in out of the terrible hail storm to find a roaring fire in the hearth, a spotless kitchen and a big plate of freshly made brownies sitting on the bench with a note from Sue saying that if there was anything else she could do to just ask.

This is just one example of why we will be forever grateful to the Thomson family of ‘Manahune Farm’.

‘Manahune’ history by Stu Thomson

‘Manahune’ or ‘man is huge’…. Alas, after a bit of research we discovered the name’s origins actually refer to a Pacific tribe of very short people: the Menehune.  Perhaps fitting, as giants we are not!
Our children are the fifth generation of Thomsons on ‘Manahune’, which was originally the hogget block of the famous Glenmark Estate.  It was drawn in a ballot for government leasehold blocks in 1915 by Alice Louise Thomson, our girls’ great-great grandmother.  She and her two sons would have arrived on foot  – no roads, power, or houses – and their early years on the farm were spent in true pioneer style – in tents, watching over the stock and breaking in the land.
Every generation has had a hand in shaping what is today part of the “Netherwood” movie set.  The land has claimed a life along the way, but has mostly meant happy memories and great experiences for all who have had a connection to the farm, and we hope the same holds true for the “Netherwood” cast and crew.
As well as providing an income stream – or lack of! -  over the years ‘Manahune’ has put on awesome woolshed parties, hosted farm discussion groups and tours,  won awards, made innumerable scones and cups of tea, and become a duck shooting mecca.  And now, the big screen beckons!
All of us here at ‘Manahune’ wish “Netherwood” all the best and we are really proud and thrilled to be a part of it.

‘Manahune’ and Netherwood by Sue Thomson

I remember pretty clearly when we saw Owen and Will on the front page of the Hurunui News late last year.  A movie being shot in Waipara? Quick, fire off an email to them and mention our duck shooting maimai: it might be a good fit with the Western theme.
Fast forward to February,  when it was pretty much a case of “the circus has come to town and you can be a part of it for awhile”…
Our farm cottage became a student flat: bunks, booze, Macs for Africa, vehicles everywhere, a few tents even -  all accompanied by a fantastic bunch of people.
We helped out however we could, no matter how strange the request:

“Stu, we need a decomposing sheep”
“Sure, I’’ll get right onto it and even wheelbarrow it to set.”
“We can’’t get internet over here, can you help..?”
“Yup, we can.”
“We need a dog that sounds vicious, but isn’t.”
“Umm, okay.”
“We need a pit for the stunt horses to fall in”
“Sure, we do those all the time.”
“Can you catch a pigeon for the wool shed scenes?”
“Sure thing.”
“Do you know anyone who can be Will’’s 4WD motorbike stuntie?”
“We do, actually…”

The list goes on, but the best part is, we had an absolute ball helping out because the “Netherwood” cast and crew were such a tight knit, hard working, unegotistical, FUN group to be around that anything to do with them was a blast.  Our kids felt slightly abandoned by us for a few weeks I think, but they too were made to feel very much a part of it all, even when our youngest happened to wander on set during a risqué scene!
We’d do it all again anytime.  Did someone say there’s a sequel in the works..?

What Mia Thomson (age 9) thought of Netherwood

It was definitely an amazing experience having Netherwood being filmed on our farm.
It was nice having friendly people next door, and our cottage looked so much different
when there was heaps of computers, bunk beds, and stuff there. It was also nice having a
party, every once and a while my sisters and I got to have some parent free time. YAY!!!!!!
Every body worked so so hard on Netherwood and I think it will turn out to be a great movie.
The Netherwood team had heaps of late nights and early mornings and I was happy because I got lots of auto-graphs
GO NETHERWOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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