Greetings from Murray the temporary editor while Ross seeks out fish and wild South Island countryside on the Great NZ Trek. Journalistic quality is NOT guaranteed but I will try my best.

The river is likely to be fishable this afternoon after two 260cumec flushes that went through on Thursday. More rain is forecast for later today but the river is dropping nicely. Perhaps dark woolie buggers will be a good idea?

Following photos tell the story of the TRM inmates raft fishing trip down 14km of rapids in the remote upper Tongariro – sponsored by RaftingNZ.  In between all these rapids are pool after pool full of wild trout waiting for anglers.  The only access through this beautiful wilderness is by raft.  All inmates agreed it was a “Bucket List” experience.  Photos of other West Islanders, John Porteous from Ballarat and Paul Gandell from Sydney were taken by Murray Cullen from Ballina.