Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Contestants on the reality show Castaways are being taken for dopes by locals on Great Barrier Island.
Cheeky residents have been tossing marijuana seeds into the enclosure where a new series of the hit BBC show has started filiming.
And crew members are struggling to contain the cannabis plants, which are blooming in the warm late summer weather.
"Every time they pull one out, a couple of days later they find another one sprouting up," an islander told Sunday News.
"I think the crew find it quite funny - they have been laughing that the locals are trying to give the contestants a treat!"
The 12 Castaways arrived on the Hauraki Gulf island on February 28 for a three-month stay, which is being filmed by the BBC and will also show on TVNZ.
Among the contestants are lap dancer Erica Hurst, Jason Ross, a recovering drug addict, mum-of-four Wendie Mitchell, and Kenneth Rose, 65, a former Royal Marine.
Billed as a "social experiment with a purpose" the series follows the diverse group as they strike out for themselves.
Cast members were reportedly told the island was inhabited in the past, but the residents have mysteriously disappeared.
"Apparently they are going to be self-sufficient - they're having chickens delivered and they have to decide whether to eat them or use them for eggs," said our source.
"They'll also have to do a bit of agricultural work - but maybe not with cannabis plants!"
The biggest challenge for the Castaways -and the crew - is likely to be the rats who are in abundance on the island.
They have already made a nuisance of themselves chewing through vital cables and the area is now littered with rat traps.
Programme makers have been paranoid about security and secrecy since their arrival on the island, making many locals and tourists sign confidentiality agreements.
They are based on a secluded coastal site at Harataonga Bay, where contestants are living in quaint wooden huts on a stretch of land that features a swamp full of eels.
Crew have been begging fishermen and tourists on the water to keep away from the area - offering beer, wine and cash as an incentive to take their boats elsewhere.
But on Friday a couple of technicians were actually helped by fishermen.
"They were out in a dingy and it suddenly shot up in the air, flipped backwards and went upside-down," said the boatie, who didn't want to be named.
"I notified marine radio and went to see if I could help. They were fine but I think they lost a lot of equipment - there were oars, cellphones and all-sorts floating in the water."
Most locals have been delighted by the arrival of the film crew due to the boost it has given to the local economy. Pubs, restaurants and accommodation have been packed.
"The whole island has been busy as there are many more people floating around," said Margery Harris, owner of Tipi & Bob's Waterfront Lodge. "We've noticed a big increase in sales of food."
The Castaway bosses have also offered jobs to locals, mostly in security and catering.
A previously unemployed dad-of-four is now reportedly earning $1000 a week delivering the schedules and scripts to the crew at 7 o'clock each morning.
"We actually need this on the island - the average income is $23,000 and we are hoping it might trickle down and improve that," said one resident.
News Hawk- User 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: stuff.co.nz
Author: CATH BENNETT
Contact: Stuff.co.nz
Copyright: Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Website: Cannabis treat for UK Castaways
Cheeky residents have been tossing marijuana seeds into the enclosure where a new series of the hit BBC show has started filiming.
And crew members are struggling to contain the cannabis plants, which are blooming in the warm late summer weather.
"Every time they pull one out, a couple of days later they find another one sprouting up," an islander told Sunday News.
"I think the crew find it quite funny - they have been laughing that the locals are trying to give the contestants a treat!"
The 12 Castaways arrived on the Hauraki Gulf island on February 28 for a three-month stay, which is being filmed by the BBC and will also show on TVNZ.
Among the contestants are lap dancer Erica Hurst, Jason Ross, a recovering drug addict, mum-of-four Wendie Mitchell, and Kenneth Rose, 65, a former Royal Marine.
Billed as a "social experiment with a purpose" the series follows the diverse group as they strike out for themselves.
Cast members were reportedly told the island was inhabited in the past, but the residents have mysteriously disappeared.
"Apparently they are going to be self-sufficient - they're having chickens delivered and they have to decide whether to eat them or use them for eggs," said our source.
"They'll also have to do a bit of agricultural work - but maybe not with cannabis plants!"
The biggest challenge for the Castaways -and the crew - is likely to be the rats who are in abundance on the island.
They have already made a nuisance of themselves chewing through vital cables and the area is now littered with rat traps.
Programme makers have been paranoid about security and secrecy since their arrival on the island, making many locals and tourists sign confidentiality agreements.
They are based on a secluded coastal site at Harataonga Bay, where contestants are living in quaint wooden huts on a stretch of land that features a swamp full of eels.
Crew have been begging fishermen and tourists on the water to keep away from the area - offering beer, wine and cash as an incentive to take their boats elsewhere.
But on Friday a couple of technicians were actually helped by fishermen.
"They were out in a dingy and it suddenly shot up in the air, flipped backwards and went upside-down," said the boatie, who didn't want to be named.
"I notified marine radio and went to see if I could help. They were fine but I think they lost a lot of equipment - there were oars, cellphones and all-sorts floating in the water."
Most locals have been delighted by the arrival of the film crew due to the boost it has given to the local economy. Pubs, restaurants and accommodation have been packed.
"The whole island has been busy as there are many more people floating around," said Margery Harris, owner of Tipi & Bob's Waterfront Lodge. "We've noticed a big increase in sales of food."
The Castaway bosses have also offered jobs to locals, mostly in security and catering.
A previously unemployed dad-of-four is now reportedly earning $1000 a week delivering the schedules and scripts to the crew at 7 o'clock each morning.
"We actually need this on the island - the average income is $23,000 and we are hoping it might trickle down and improve that," said one resident.
News Hawk- User 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: stuff.co.nz
Author: CATH BENNETT
Contact: Stuff.co.nz
Copyright: Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Website: Cannabis treat for UK Castaways
