Q&A

WITH Bill Hohepa

Wayne Wills MNZM – best known as fishing guru, Bill Hohepa – seemingly lives the quiet life at Beachlands yet, just mention his name and most folk will instantly associate him with the Maori fishing calendar. Of course, while many will know, others will wonder what he’s up to these days so EastLife asked this larger than life character if fishing remains a passion and what has also hooked him on trucks!

Your real name is Wayne Wills, why the pseudonym and are you still known as Wayne anywhere?

I began using ‘Bill Hohepa’ when I started writing a fishing column. At the time I was a prison officer and the inmates could, of course, read what I had to say – they would have given me beans! Instead, I used the pseudonym to avoid that. Most people now call me Bill and have done so for at least 40 years. The name Wills was my mother’s maiden name as she had me when she was just 15. I lived with her as my father was already married and I didn’t meet him until I was 46. Subsequently, I never knew about my Maori side.

Where did you learn to fi sh and to love it?

Nobody taught me to fish. As a child my uncle took all the kids with him to help fish with a net for piper. I looked forward to those occasions because I had a very abusive step father and this was a way to spend pleasurable time away from him. I used to borrow uncle’s net to catch piper by myself. I’d ride my bike to the beach, catch the piper, then ride to Auckland Zoo and sell the fish to the keepers. They fed them to aquatic animals and birds and I earned some pocket money. I became passionate about fishing when I was about 20, fishing mainly from the shore. In those days fishermen told you nothing and took you nowhere; I learned the hard way. I used to think a lot about how to catch fish and was always trying new ideas, some worked, some didn’t. I sought out information on the Maori fishing calendar, and read all about it. By combining this knowledge with my catch diary, I formed my own calendar, which seemed to be reasonably accurate. Later, I began publishing this, and it still is published today.

In 2014 You were awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to recreational fi shing and the community; how did it that come about?

It wasn’t just about my fishing columns. In 1979 I started a school holiday programme taking 20 youngsters away for five days teaching them to fish. Supported by Auckland City Council, the programme was formalised in 1993 and named Camp Hohepa Inc. Kids came from all walks of life and we held camps in Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Waikato, Auckland, and Northland. These ran from 1979 to 2009 but ended when Health and Safety highlighted risks and also my liability as the camp’s principal. If one little thing went wrong I’d be blasted and I couldn’t afford that.

Other reasons for the MNZM were, indeed, my fishing information and entertainment provided via my fishing books, videos and DVDs as well as my national TV shows on fishing. We recorded some 540 episodes of fishing shows from 1997 to 2009. I also hosted fundraising talks via fishing seminars for schools, service clubs plus the ambulance and fire services. Between 1968 and 2009 I also wrote a weekly fishing column for fishing magazines, and newspapers.

Is your advice still in demand?

My fishing calendar information is still readily available, and I still do the occasional fundraising talk, but the younger fishing generation have many ways to obtain up to date fishing information; mine was more applicable to previous generations. Fishing TV shows are now two a penny and can be seen on many channels. After 40 years I thought it time to let the younger generation get on with it.

However, in 2010 we moved to Beachlands. Here, I and my good friend Stu Cawker, or Captain Asparagus as he’s known in fishing circles, started a little kids’ fishing club called The Sticky Baits Fishing Club. Over a five year period Stu and I taught some 20 kids to fish. After five years they all earned their Master Fisherman certificates. We still keep in touch with this group, now all young adults. As an aside, the oldest Camp Hohepa boy is now 52 and has a family and grandkids.

Do you still fi sh regularly?

After years of catching fish and showing others how to catch fish, my passion has slowed. Sure, I still go out from time to time and catch a couple for a meal, but that’s about it. People still recognise me and my name so I must have made an impression over the years. In the beginning it was all about catching that BIG fish, but later, it was seeing the smile on a kid’s face as he/she caught that first fish after taking a few basic lessons at Camp Hohepa.

Do you have a favourite fi shing spot?

Fish move about so I can’t say I have a favourite spot as such. I always check the day in my fishing diary, and when I get out on the water I look for sea bird work ups. I’ve always said, ‘Those birds aren’t there for a haircut, they’re there to feed, so find the birds; find the fish’. That’s pretty much my advice

Bill Hohepa (left); Linda (above) and Bill.

to anyone heading out to sea. If you’re land based, look for the birds sitting in the trees and on the rocks, particularly shags. With the exception of seagulls, sea birds have to eat fish to stay alive; they’re equipped with various senses which lets them to seek out the fish. Take advantage of that!

You stopped fi shing shows some years ago what happened next?

In 2009 I stopped making fishing shows because there were so many and, really, I’d done the subject to death. But to put all the TV stuff into perspective: when I was 12, I decided to become a film maker. I loved the Saturday matinees and was fascinated as to how films were strung together. You can imagine my disappointment when, coming up to 15, my mother told me she couldn’t afford to keep me a school and she’d found me a job; the truck would pick me up on Monday! My dreams and aspirations, gone...but never forgotten.

In 1990 I convinced a fishing magazine to help me produce a fishing video; we called it Bill Hohepa Goes Fishing. The magazine employed a camera man and the two of us began a month-long fishing trip around New Zealand, filming as we went. When completed, the result was a VHS product which sold so well, we did a few more videos.

During this process I learned as much as possible on the why and wherefores of filming and editing. Then, in 1996 my wife Linda and I bought a video camera and an editing suite and began doing our own videos. In 1997 the new, Triangle TV, asked if I’d do a fishing show for them? Of course! So Linda and I started making TV episodes and we’re still doing so today.

Since we started, Linda and I have produced about 48 weekly episodes a year on a variety of topics. We aren’t publicly funded so we have to find sponsorship but we’ve been lucky. As a result, we are able to produce shows on virtually any topic – Linda films, and I front and edit. Our current series, The Billy Ho Show, screens on SKY channel 83, (FACE) Tuesdays at 7.30pm (repeated at different times).

You’ve also written a book, Talking Trucks, – how did this interest in trucking come about?

I got my [driver’s] licence at 15 and loved driving. At 17 I worked for Hutchinson’s Wholesale driving an alcohol and coffee delivery van. The firm had a bigger truck for bigger loads and when the driver left, I was able to get my HT licence and took over that job. Going forward, I had various trucking jobs, including for Ridgeway’s Circus. I got my heavy trailer licence with them, and moved to driving articulated trucks.

I had many years driving these old-school trucks, and I never forgot that wonderful experience! So, when we were deciding on a new TV series, it was a ‘no-brainer!’ Nobody was doing a TV trucking show at the time so we ran with that. Toll NZ sponsored it and we called it Talking Trucks.

At the end of our first year, we were told it was the channel’s most popular show...ever! After five years, we changed the name to Low Gear, so we could include vintage machinery and anything else with wheels built earlier than 1972. Low Gear ran for six years. Our current, series (The Billy Ho Show) includes all things vintage with a bit of fishing, too.

Where now for Bill Hohepa?

I’m 75 years old. Most 75 year olds are enjoying retirement. My brain is too busy to let me fully retire at this stage! As well as the things I’ve talked about, Linda and I run two annual events – a two week 4WD trek either in the North or South Islands where we explore the many 4x4 tracks available to us, and also an Old Truck tour taking a minibus full of former truckies around the country for two weeks looking at trucks from yesteryear. Fortunately, I know where they all are!

Do you have time for other

hobbies?

Yes, I have an interest in old Studebaker cars. I’m the webmaster for the Studebaker Drivers’ Club of New Zealand, and I have a 1953 Landcruiser Commander Studebaker. We are also members of the Auckland chapter of the American Car Club, and enjoy outings with both clubs. In addition, I write books which are self-published and sold via our TV shows and events around the country. Linda is a qualified proof reader and a professional photographer so this works well for us. I can also play the piano and the guitar.

If you could ask any three people (living or dead) to dinner who would they be?

My friend, Captain Asparagus; my lovely wife, Linda and my good friend, country music singer, Brendan Dugan.