Hunt for the Wilderpeople – Houses

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a 2016 New Zealand made film written and directed by Taika Waititi, whose screenplay was based on the book Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump.

Sam Neill and Julian Dennison play “Uncle” Hector and Ricky Baker, a father figure and son who become the targets of a manhunt after fleeing into the New Zealand bush.

Moody problem child from the city, Ricky Baker is sent to live in the remote NZ bush with new foster parents Bella and Hector, two reclusive country folk. When Child Services try to take him back, Ricky refuses, sparking a national manhunt. The unfortunate death of Bella means the inexperienced and intolerant Hector now has to look after Ricky by himself, with great difficulty. Bella’s passing and Hectors inability to be a successful role model, causes Child Services to decide to send Ricky back to the orphanage. Ricky refuses to go and heads into the deep bush; sparking a national manhunt for him and Hector.

The film was shot over 5 weeks, in locations including the Central Plateau and the Waitakere Ranges. Almost the entire film was shot using a single camera.

Two of the locations I visited were the house that was used as Uncle Hectors rural abode and secondly a run down (but recently renovated) Freemans Bay 1880s Victorian mansion. The house featured as the eventual boarding home Uncle Hec, stayed at towards the end of the film.

Hector & Bella’s country home

Hector’s eventual home at end of film

2 Comments

  1. Dali

    Hey where abouts is the country home in those first images, I heard it was in the Coromandel but I’m wondering if you have an address I haven’t been able to find one anywhere

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