Peta Carey is a storyteller extraordinaire, who has worked as a TV presenter, documentary maker, director and producer. However, perhaps more important than all her experience is her deep connection with Fiordland. From working on the Hollyford track as a teenager to her continuing work with the Hollyford Conservation Trust, Fiordland is a place dear to her heart that has shaped her career. I was lucky enough to hear her speak about her latest book, The Hollows Boys, in conversation with Ōtautahi author Saige England.
Peta has a lively stage presence, smiling and waving to people she knows in the crowd. There’s a good-sized audience for a Friday afternoon, and it’s maybe the first time I’ve ever been to a WORD event with more men than women in attendance. This shows how the book has reached a different demographic than most others on the Ockham shortlist, something Peta reflects on later in the session. The Hollows Boys tells the story of three brothers, Gary, Mark, and Kim Hollows, during the helicopter deer recovery era in Fiordland. Peta starts by acknowledging the recent passing of Mark Hollows, a dear friend who plays a significant role in the book. This sets the tone for the conversation; this book is about people she knows and cares about, who trusted her to tell their story. It’s not just about what happened, it’s fundamentally about the people involved.
Maybe this is why the book is so engaging and has resonated deeply with readers. Peta talks about how other authors have explored the subject, but she brought different insights and ingredients as a female author. Her background as a filmmaker also shaped the way she interviewed and made the interviews a core part of the narrative. Her emotional connection to the place and people adds another layer of meaning. She shares how her late husband originally wanted to write this story – his photography is in the book, and she wrote it in his honour.
One part of the conversation that particularly stood out for me was Peta describing the 500+ messages she’s received from readers of the book. These messages, mostly from men, express how much the book meant to them, including many sentiments like “I never read books, but I read yours”. That this book has reached people who don’t typically read is obviously very meaningful to Peta, and a testament to her skill as a storyteller.
Another thing that captured my attention was the relevance of this story to conservation work today. People in Fiordland are reporting that they’re seeing similar deer populations as in the 1960s and it’s becoming a major issue again. Deer numbers need to be managed to protect the native forest, and deer culling programmes are still in place – although with more safety measures than in the 1970s! There’s no easy solution, and the Fiordland deer wars aren’t over yet.
The Hollow Boys is a story about a wild, adventurous, and totally unique time in New Zealand’s history. Yes, it’s a story about guys shooting deer from helicopters and getting caught up in the adrenaline and competition of the time. But from listening to Peta speak, I’ve learnt it’s about much more than that. It’s a story with deep themes of luck, loss and fate. It’s an era of New Zealand history that we’ll never see again. And ultimately, it’s a story of human lives that has touched many people deeply, through their own connections and experiences.
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